Characterization of Hearing Loss in Paget Disease: A National Database Study.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to identify a relationship between Paget disease and sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss.

Methods: Using the TriNetx Analytics Network, a retrospective database review was performed. The database was queried for patients with a diagnosis of Paget disease. A control group was created by querying all patients without a diagnosis of Paget. Patients in both the control and study group with a diagnosis of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and cochlear implantation were recorded, propensity-matched by age, hypertension, diabetes, aspirin use, and loop diuretic use.

Results: We identified 8790 patients with Paget disease. Among the control group, 6.1% had a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss, 0.46% had a diagnosis of conductive hearing loss, and 0.9% had a diagnosis of mixed hearing loss. The Paget disease group had a significantly higher rate of all 3 types of hearing loss: 9.1% had sensorineural hearing loss (P < 0.001), 0.8% had conductive hearing loss (P < 0.001), and 1.45% had mixed hearing loss (P = 0.006). Patients with Paget disease also had higher rates of tinnitus (4.6% vs 2.8%, P < 0.001) and vertigo (3.9% vs 2.8%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study is the largest to date that describes a relationship between Paget and otologic complications. There was a significant increased risk in each hearing loss subgroup as well as tinnitus and vertigo for patients with Paget disease. Further studies should focus on better understanding of screening and prevention of hearing loss for this population.

Level of evidence: Level IV.