The association between thyroid disease and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) has not been evaluated. We investigated the association of goiter, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and hyperthyroidism with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort were used. The 8658 SSNHL patients were matched in a 1:4 ratio with 34,632 controls for age, sex, and region of residence. Histories of goiter, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and Levothyroxine medication were explored as possible factors influencing SSNHL development. Associations were estimated using conditional logistic regression analyses, adjusted for Levothyroxine medication use. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age, sex, income, and region of residence. SSNHL patients had a higher rate of goiter occurrence (4.4% vs. 3.7 %, p = 0.001) and hypothyroidism (4.0% vs. 3.2 %, p < 0.001) than controls. Goiter and hypothyroidism were positively associated with SSNHL (adjusted OR =1.14 (95% CI =1.01-1.28), p = 0.043 for goiter and 1.17 (95% CI =1.03-1.33), p = 0.016 for hypothyroidism). In subgroup analyses, hypothyroidism or goiter was more prevalent in SSNHL patients than in controls. Lower-income subgroups showed associations of hypothyroidism and goiter with SSNHL. SSNHL patients were more likely to have goiter and hypothyroidism than normal individuals.
Keywords: case-control studies; cohort Studies; hearing loss; hyperthyroidism; sudden.