Low‐Normal Platelets and Decreasing Platelets Are Risk Factors for Hearing Impairment Development

Abstract

Identification of undefined risk factors will be crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies in hearing impairment. Platelets are likely to affect the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which is a primary risk factor for permanent hearing impairment. This implies that abnormal platelets might contribute to long-term hearing loss. This study investigated the role of platelets in the development of hearing impairment over a 5-year period. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study and consisted of a population-based survey, which was performed for 1,897 participants in 2014 to 2019. To evaluate the effect of platelet level on hearing ability, the subjects were divided into two groups: a high-normal platelet group (25 40 × 10 4 cells/μL) and a low-normal platelet group (15 25 × 10 4 cells/μL). Subjects were defined as having hearing impairment when pure tone audiometry was over 25 dB HL in either ear (tested in 2017 and 2019). Incidence of hearing impairment was analyzed. Results: Incidence of hearing impairment at low frequencies was significantly higher in the low-normal platelet group than in the high-normal group year over year. Low-normal platelet count associated with low-frequency hearing impairment (LFHI) incidence (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-4.76). In the low-normal platelet group, subjects whose counts declined from baseline developed more LFHI than those whose counts increased over time. Further, decreasing platelets appeared to be an independent risk factor contributing to the incidence of LFHI (OR, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.09-4.06) in the low-normal platelet group. Conclusion: Both a low-normal platelet and a declining platelet count were independently associated with the incidence of LFHI.

Evaluation of hematological parameters of patients with profound unilateral and mild to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss

“…In a study of 1,897 participants, Abe et al [14] investigated the correlation between PLT and the development of hearing impairment over a five-year period. They found that a low to normal PLT correlates with a low-frequency hearing impairment, and a decreasing PLT in low to normal platelet subjects is an independent risk factor.…”

Hypertension and the development of hearing loss

“…Epidemiologic studies support significant links between hearing-loss development and vascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia and diabetes [5,6]. Furthermore, recent studies have noted that low or declining platelet levels are also important and novel risk factors for the development of hearing loss [7]. Managing these risk factors is crucial to prevent the development of hearing impairment, since no effective drug therapies are approved that are capable of protecting or restoring hearing, and treatment for hearing loss is limited to clinical devices [4].…”