Bidirectional Association Between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Glaucoma: A Cohort Study

Objectives: To investigate the bidirectional association between sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) over a 12-year follow-up period using nationwide, population-based data. Methods: The study was conducted using the National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS-NHID), which covered 3.5 million individuals from 2008 to 2019. In Study 1, we evaluated the effect of OAG on SSNHL, and in Study 2, we evaluated the effect of SSNHL on OAG. Participants of the control group were enrolled through “greedy nearest-neighbor” 1:1 propensity score matching. Results: In Study 1, 26,777 people were included in each group. The hazard ratio (HR) for SSNHL of the OAG group was 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–1.39). In subgroup analysis, there was significant HR value regarding (old age: 1.17, hyperlipidemia: 1.19). In Study 2, 15,433 people were included in each group. The HR for OAG of the SSNHL group was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.07–1.30). In subgroup analysis, the HRs were significant for old age (2.31), hypertension (1.17), diabetes (1.39), and hyperlipidemia (1.26). Conclusion: Over the 12-year follow-up, we found a bidirectional association between SSNHL and OAG, suggesting a shared pathogenesis. Level of evidence: N/A. Laryngoscope, 133:3169–3177, 2023.