Assessment of Variation Throughout the Year in the Incidence of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine whether the incidence of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) varies throughout the year. Study Design: This study is a retrospective case review. Setting: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center within a teaching hospital. Patients: Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of ISSHL confirmed by audiometric data. Exclusion criteria were intracranial neoplasms, a history of Ménière's disease, previous ear procedures, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy to the head or neck. There was no exclusion criterion based on age. Ninetyseven patients met these criteria. The median age was 52 years (range, 26Y85 yr), and there were 53 (54.6%) women and 44 (45.4%) men. Main Outcome Measures: Monthly incidence counts were compiled across a 3-year period. Counts were analyzed for uneven incidence distributions and seasonal variation via standard statistical tests. Results: Overall, no evidence was found for an uneven distribution or for a peak either by W 2 ( p 9 0.1), which assesses for any uneven distribution, or by the circular mean ( p 9 0.1), which assesses for a pattern of seasonal variation. In the subset of patients (24 of 97; 24.7%) who reported experiencing an upper respiratory infection before or concurrent with the onset of ISSHL, no evidence was found for an uneven distribution of hearing loss onset throughout the year either by W 2 ( p 9 0.1) or by the circular mean ( p 9 0.1). Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that ISSHL incidence does not display uneven distribution throughout the year.

Investigation of seasonal variability of vestibular neuronitis

“…In contrast to the aforementioned studies, Danielides et al found no significant differences in seasonal incidence (at a 95 per cent confidence level) in a retrospective review of 82 patients with idiopathic sudden SNHL over a four-year period at a single institution 14 . More recently, Jourdy et al reviewed the charts of 97 patients with idiopathic sudden SNHL and found no uneven distribution throughout the year 15 . Furthermore, a subset analysis of those patients who complained of symptoms characteristic of upper respiratory infection prior to hearing loss revealed no evidence of seasonal variability.…”

“…14 More recently, Jourdy et al reviewed the charts of 97 patients with idiopathic sudden SNHL and found no uneven distribution throughout the year. 15 Furthermore, a subset analysis of those patients who complained of symptoms characteristic of upper respiratory infection prior to hearing loss revealed no evidence of seasonal variability. Studies of weather conditions and incidence of idiopathic sudden SNHL have been similarly inconclusive.…”

A Trend in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Data from a Population-Based Study

“…Danielides et al [2002] compared the differences in the incidence of SSNHL depending on the temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity among 82 SSNHL patients, but found no significant correlations. Jourdy et al [2010] also reported that there was no difference in the monthly incidence among patients with SSNHL in a tertiary care center in New York, NY, USA. In contrast, the Taiwanese study reported a seasonal difference in the incidence of SSNHL that peaked in autumn, especially in October [Wu et al, 2006].…”

Accelerated Long-Term Hearing Loss Progression After Recovery From Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…Previous research has supported a wide range of underlying comorbidities as being positively associated with ISSNHL, such as vascular, metabolic, allergic, autoimmune, and depressive disorders (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Environmental factors such as weather patterns have been explored as a potential contributor to disease incidence with little in the way of significant findings, with the possible role of seasonally-associated factors being alternately supported or refuted (12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Current standard of care for treatment involves either oral or intratympanic glucocorticoids; other treatments, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy or antiretroviral therapies are commonly used, although without evidence that they modify disease progression (2).…”