The relation of sudden sensory neural hearing loss with the previous incidence of chronic periodontitis.

Abstract

Objective: Chronic periodontitis (CP) has been linked to an increased risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). This study aimed to delineate the causal relationships between CP and SSNHL.

Methods: Data from 40-year-old participants in the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort from 2002 through 2019 were used. The data of 13,769 patients with SSNHL were collected and matched with those of 55,076 control participants in terms of demographic and socioeconomic variables. The incidence of CP before the onset of SSNHL was recorded. The odds ratios (ORs) of CP for SSNHL were analyzed via conditional logistic regression. The ORs for SSNHL were analyzed according to the frequency of CP, ≥ 1, 2, and 3 times within 1 year and ≥ 1 within 2 years. In addition, sensitivity analyses were conducted for all the covariables.

Results: CP patients had a higher mean CP occurrence (0.71 within one year, 1.34 within two years) than controls. CP was associated with increased odds of SSNHL (OR = 1.14 [95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.10-1.19] for CP ≥ 1 within one year, OR = 1.09 [95%CI = 1.03- 1.15] for CP ≥ 2, and OR = 1.09 [95% CI = 1.02-1.17] for CP ≥ 3). CP ≥ 1 within two years was related to a 1.15 (95% CI = 1.10-1.19) times greater odds for SSNHL. Higher SSNHL rate was also observed in subgroups of underweight, overweight, elderly, and comorbid individuals.

Conclusion: CP was linked with an elevated incidence of SSNHL. Individuals with comorbidities, advanced age, or abnormal body weight were more likely to have CP with SSNHL.