Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Evidence from Taiwan

Abstract

Objective:This study uses 5-year population data to determine the incidence rate of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in Taiwan, taking into consideration the age and gender of patients, as well as seasonal variations. Study Design:A retrospective cross-sectional study. Method: The data used is from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database covering the period from 1998 to 2002. A total of 9,267 sample patients were identified from the database by a principal diagnosis of unspecified sudden hearing loss (ICD-9-CM code 3882). The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) method was also carried out in order to identify any variations in the monthly incidence rates of SSNHL. Results:We find that for the period under examination, gender-specific incidence rates per 100,000 of the population were 8.85 for males, and 7.79 for females, and that there was an increase in age-specific SSNHL incidence with age. The ARIMA test for seasonality was found to be significant for the whole sample. Of all the seasons in Taiwan, the highest SSNHL incidence rates were found in autumn. Conclusions: Our finding of significant variations in the monthly incidence of SSNHL provides valuable information for otolaryngologists and public health officials, creating an awareness of periods of a potential increased risk of SSNHL.

Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene Polymorphisms in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as a loss of at least 30 dB in 3 contiguous frequencies over a period of 3 days or less [Wu et al, 2006]. The incidence rates per 100,000 people in the Taiwanese population are 8.85 for men and 7.79 for women [Wu et al, 2006].…”

“…The incidence rates per 100,000 people in the Taiwanese population are 8.85 for men and 7.79 for women [Wu et al, 2006]. The etiology and pathogenesis of SSNHL are not known, but the proposed primary causes include viral infection, vascular disease, and autoimmunity [Wu et al, 2006].…”

Neuroplasticity-targeted Intervention for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A New Therapeutic Direction

“…It has been estimated that, in Taiwan, there are approximately 2000 to 3000 new cases of SSNHL per year [5], whereas in the United States, there are approximately 4000 new cases of SSNHL per year [6]. Nonetheless, it is likely that these numbers have been underestimated, given that many patients spontaneously recover without receiving medical attention [7].…”

“…Furthermore, spontaneous recovery has been shown to depend on several factors, including age, vestibular symptoms at onset, severity of hearing loss at presentation, and the amount of time that elapses between symptom onset and treatment [1]. SSNHL typically occurs in middle adulthood (43 to 53 years of age), and incidence increases with age [3,5,7]. Males and females are equally affected [7].…”

Association between Family History and Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…Estimates of the incidence of ISSNHL range from 5 to 20 cases per 100,000 people; it is a common otologic disease [12,13] . In most cases, ISSNHL presents unilaterally; however, bilateral involvement may also be seen in rare cases.…”