Pregnancy is not a risk factor for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A nationwide population-based study

Abstract

Conclusion Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in pregnancy is rare. It usually occurs in the third trimester. SSNHL in pregnancy does not increase risks during delivery or subsequent stroke.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the incidence and to determine the factors associated with SSNHL in pregnancy.

Method Data were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD), covering the years 2000–2009. Patients admitted for SSNHL during pregnancy were enrolled. An age-matched controlled cohort was randomly selected from pregnant women without SSNHL in the NHIRD. The clinical characteristics of both cohorts were collected for further analyses.

Results Thirty-three patients with SSNHL in pregnancy were enrolled. The estimated incidence of SSNHL in pregnancy in Taiwan was 2.71 per 100,000 pregnancies. The incidence of SSNHL in pregnancy was lower than that of the general female population. The incidence of SSNHL in the third trimester was higher compared to the other two. The incidence of SSNHL occurring in the 30–39 years old age group was higher than other groups. Women with better socioeconomic status had a higher incidence of SSNHL. There were no identified systemic diseases before SSNHL. Two patients had pre-eclampsia and one patient had premature delivery. Nevertheless, SSNHL in pregnancy did not increase the risk for stroke.

Keywords:

• Incidence rate
• pregnancy
• stroke
• sudden deafness
• sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Shih-Tien Hsu of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Taichung Veterans General Hospital for his valuable suggestions. The authors also thank Miss Yi-Hui Chen for her valuable advice regarding the statistical analyses.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.