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. 2023 Mar;182(3):1289-1297.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-022-04767-3. Epub 2023 Jan 13.

Association between in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and hearing loss: risk factors for hearing loss among twin infants in a cohort study

Jinghua Yin  1 , Yu Su  2 , Linpeng Siyuan  2 , Fei Yin  3 , Weidong Wang  2 , Fengliang Deng  4 , Taosha Wang  5
Affiliations

Association between in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and hearing loss: risk factors for hearing loss among twin infants in a cohort study

Jinghua Yin et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), are known to contribute a higher risk of birth defects; however, studies have rarely evaluated the association between IVF-ET and diagnostic hearing loss (HL). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for HL and to clarify the association between IVF-ET and HL among twinborn infants. We enrolled 1860 live-born twin neonates born at a hospital in China from January 2017 to December 2020. After multi-step hearing screening, participants were diagnosed with HL by pediatric audiologists at 6 months of age. The prevalence of hearing loss and the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for specific risk factors were estimated using generalized estimation equation (GEE) models in twin-born infants. Characteristics and prevalence of failure for hearing screening and HL were measured in IVF-ET twin infants. IVF-ET conception and preterm birth conferred a higher risk of hearing loss, with increased adjusted odds ratios (AOR [95% confidence intervals (CI)] IVF-ET: 2.82 [1.17-6.80], P = 0.021; preterm birth: 6.14 [2.30-16.40], P < 0.001) than the control group, respectively. Among the 1860 twin infants, more IVF-ET twins failed in dual-step hearing screening (3.26%) and were diagnosed with hearing loss (2.21%) than those conceived by spontaneous pregnancy.

Conclusion: IVF-ET conception and premature birth were associated with a higher risk of hearing impairment. Twin infants conceived by IVF-ET tended to fail in hearing screening and be diagnosed with hearing loss. These observations provide a more comprehensive approach for the prevention and management of deafness in twin-born children.

What is known: • IVF-ET technologies conferred a higher risk of birth defects.

What is new: • Premature birth and IVF-ET conception were associated with a higher risk of hearing loss among twin infants. • Twin infants conceived by IVF-ET tended to fail in hearing screening and diagnosed with hearing loss.

Keywords: Hearing loss; Hearing screening; In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer; Risk factors; Twin infants.

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