THE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK OF PATIENTS WITH SUDDEN HEARING-LOSS

In this prospective case control study 135 patients with sudden hearin g loss were compared with regard to their cardiovascular risk with 135 otologically healthy patients and 111 patients with coronary heart di sease. The groups were matched according to age, sex and date of onset of disease. The risk factors investigated were: serum cholesterol, lo w-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, bloo d pressure, body weight, diabetes mellitus, positive family history of coronary heart disease and smoking habits. There was no significant d ifference between the patients with sudden hearing loss and otological ly healthy patients. However, the difference between these two groups of patients and the patients with coronary heart disease was very pron ounced. The groups of patients with a low frequency, high frequency or pantonal hearing loss did not differ with respect to the distribution of coronary risk factors. Furthermore, no statistical correlation was found between the degree of recovery of hearing function after sudden hearing loss and coronary risk factors.