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Aggressive management of iron-deficiency anemia required to reduce sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Patients with a prior diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia, particularly those aged younger than 45 years, require more aggressive screening and management to decrease the risk for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, according to results of a case-control study.
Researchers set out to examine the association between iron-deficiency anemia and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The analysis included 16,016 participants in Taiwan, including 4,004 who experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 12,012 controls.
Researchers determined 172 participants (4.3%) with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 361 controls (3%) had received a prior diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia.
Results of logistic regression analysis showed those with sudden sensorineural hearing loss were significantly more likely to have a prior diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.11-1.61) after adjustments for monthly income, geographic region, urbanization level and comorbidities.
The association was strongest among those aged 44 years and younger (adjusted OR=1.91; 95% CI, 1.35-2.72). The significance of the association decreased with age.
“Vascular events play a big part in the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, but only those associated with sickle-cell anemia have been previously associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss,” the researchers wrote. “This study demonstrates an association between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and prior iron-deficiency anemia.”
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of the researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.