Yu H, et al. - Researchers gauged the correlation of vertigo with a prognosis of hearing variables in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Findings suggested a probable inverse association of vertigo with hearing recovery in patients with SSHL, except in a subgroup that received intratympanic corticosteroids. For treatment of SSHL accompanied by vertigo, there was a possibility of corticosteroid injection to be more effective.

Methods

• Experts performed a literature search of eligible studies in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from September 26, 1973, through September 26, 2017.
• They retrieved the studies published in English with no restrictions on the date of publication.
• For the enrollment study, Selection References were identified by screening the proceedings of relevant reviews and annual meeting and other correlative papers were scanned manually.
• They systematically retrieved all original research studies and retrospective or prospective studies focusing on the role of vertigo in the prognosis for the hearing outcome of SSHL.
• They excluded the studies that did not include data regarding the association between the rate of hearing recovery and vertigo, as were reviews, comments, case reports, editorials, letters, and practice guidelines.
• Two researchers extracted and evaluated the data.
The data that was extracted had research type, number of participants with or without vertigo, treatment regime, definition of pure-tone average, criteria for hearing improvement, and length of follow-up.
• Researchers evaluated the quality of included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (scores range from 0-9, with a score of ≥6 indicating a high-quality study).
• In Mantel-Haenszel models, the data were synthesized; the aggregate results were estimated in forest plots.
• Association of vertigo with the prognosis for the hearing outcome of SSHL was the main outcome and measure.

Results

• Findings suggested that out of the 4814 unique patients identified in 10 studies, 1709 were included in the SSHL group with vertigo and 3105 were included in SSHL group without vertigo.
• As per data, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score of each study selected was greater than 7.
• Compared with 60.29% in the group without vertigo, the recovery rate of hearing was 42.13% in the group with vertigo.
• Results demonstrated a significant association of vertigo with a worse hearing recovery (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.54-3.20; I2=74%).
• In subgroup analyses of the grading system using the Siegel criteria and systemic corticosteroid therapy, similar results were obtained.
• Nonetheless, they did not observe any association of vertigo with the prognosis of SSHL within the subgroup receiving intratympanic corticosteroids (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% CI, 0.64-4.94; I²=70%).