Pregnancy Does Not Increase the Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A National Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis Pregnancy‐induced systemic physiological changes appear to be associated with reversible hearing changes in pregnant/postpartum women. However, most studies are case reports due to the rare occurrence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) during pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the risk of SSNHL during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Study Design A longitudinal case‐control study using a nationwide population cohort. Methods Using the Korean National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we collected data from 63,331 pregnant/postpartum participants who were matched 1:2 by age, income, region of residence, and medical history with 126,662 control participants. We included participants who had International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD‐10) codes indicating delivery (O80–O84). For SSNHL (ICD‐10 code H91.2), we included only those participants who underwent audiometry and were treated with steroids. The incidence of SSNHL was measured for the periods corresponding to pregnancy (conception through delivery) up to 1 year postpartum in the pregnant participants. Results During the pregnancy period, the SSNHL rate was not higher (19.5 per 100,000) compared with the control group (60.7 per 100,000). The adjusted odds ratio of SSNHL during pregnancy was 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.16‐0.65, P = .002). The SSNHL rate during the postpartum period (37.9 per 100,000) was similar to that of the control group (36.3 per 100,000). The adjusted odds ratio of SSNHL during the postpartum period was 1.04 (95% confidence interval: 0.64‐1.71, P = .867). The risk of SSNHL in the patients during the pregnancy/postpartum period was not higher than that in controls, regardless of age and specific subperiod. Conclusions The pregnant and postpartum women were not at higher risk of SSNHL. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 130:E237–E242, 2020

Maternal disease factors associated with neonatal jaundice: a case–control study

“…In this study, KCD-6 codes related to delivery [ 19 – 21 ], pregnancy [ 19 , 22 , 23 ] and neonatal jaundice were selected to identify each event. Preterm delivery and multiple gestation were defined as at least one record of the related codes within 4 weeks before and after the delivery date.…”

Otolaryngology and the Pregnant Patient

“…The decreased hearing thresholds never dropped past 25 dB pure tone average, which is not considered hearing loss by World Health Organization classification . A large database study did not find pregnant patients to be at greater risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss . Nevertheless, sudden sensorineural hearing loss may occur in pregnant patients.…”

“…6 A large database study did not find pregnant patients to be at greater risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. 7 Nevertheless, sudden sensorineural hearing loss may occur in pregnant patients. Although specific safety recommendations in pregnancy are not available for medications based on a lack of human and animal studies, use of intravenous dextran 40 and intratympanic steroids have been reported as safe in pregnant patients.…”

Intratympanic dexamethasone injection for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in pregnancy

“…A population-based study conducted in Taiwan covering data from 2000-2009 revealed an incidence of SSNHL of 2.71 per 100000 pregnancies, which is lower than that of the general female population[ 3 ]. Controversial results were reported by the South Korean study that compared the risks of SSNHL between pregnant females and non-pregnant populations[ 4 ]. Although vasospasm, hair cell lesions, and viral infections can explain the cause of the disease, the etiology for SSNHL in pregnant women seems to have different pathogenesis.…”