Sex differences in patients with hearing impairments caused by otosclerosis

Abstract

The course of hearing in the non-operated ears was examined in 112 female patients and 63 male patients with bilateral otosclerosis who had operations in one ear only. All patients had a follow-up of at least 5 years. The mean annual impairment of the air conduction thresholds in the female patients (2.0-2.5 dB/year) did not differ significantly from that of the male patients (2.0-2.3 dB/ year). At the last follow-up examination, no difference was found between the sexes in the magnitude of the air-bone gaps. However, a sensorineural component developed in the women more frequently than in the men. Although at the last examination bone conduction thresholds of the female patients were significantly worse than those of the male patients, these were not matched by age.

The influence of measles vaccination on the incidence of otosclerosis in Germany

“…In comparison of the vaccinated patients (red, up to and including 25 years old) with those deWned as unvaccinated (blue, over 25 years old), a signiWcant decrease of the incidence in the vaccinated patients is shown in the group with otosclerosis both in the group as a whole and in consideration of men and women separately. In the otitis media group, the incidence decreased more in the unvaccinated (blue) than in the vaccinated (red) patients both in men and women separately and in the overall group women develop clinical otosclerosis more often than men (1.68:1, present study; 1.87:1, Switzerland; 2:1 according to the literature) [12]. A WHO study reports that throughout the world women die of the complications of a measles infection more frequently than men (1.42:1) [41].…”

“…Clinically, females are aVected twice as often as males [11,12]. The conductive component of hearing loss in otosclerosis can be successfully eliminated by removing the Wxed stapes and insertion of a stapes prosthesis.…”

A review on the genetics of otosclerosis

“…In clinical practice, otosclerosis is more common in females than males, with several studies reporting a female : male ratio of approximately 2 : 1 6 . Further, sex differences in patients with hearing impairment caused by otosclerosis have been reported 7 . Females could have worse bone conduction thresholds and develop a sensorineural component more frequently than that of males.…”

Deafness Genes in Israel: Implications for Diagnostics in the Clinic

“…Both environmental and genetic factors have been implicated in otosclerosis. A 2:1 female-to-male predominance suggests hormonal involvement as well (55).…”