The risk of hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss in young people increased after COVID-19 infection from 2020 to 2022, according to a study conducted by researchers from South Korea. The researchers investigated the potential relationship between coronavirus disease and hearing loss (HL) and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in adults aged 20 to 39. They found that young individuals with COVID-19 had a significantly higher risk of developing hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss compared to those without COVID-19.
The team analyzed data from 6.7 million adults aged 20 to 39 with no genetic history of hearing loss, sourced from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which included health insurance claims for COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2022. Of the participants, 49.0% were male, 72.0% had COVID-19, and 93.1% had completed the primary vaccination series against COVID-19 at the outset. The study's authors noted, "Recent case reports documented hearing loss in young adults who had no prior hearing issues following COVID-19 infection, indicating that hearing problems among youth have emerged as a new public health concern after the COVID-19 pandemic. Hearing loss in young people can significantly impact their quality of life, academic and professional performance, and social interactions."
During the study period, there were 38,269 cases of hearing loss and 5,908 cases of sensorineural hearing loss. The researchers found that the incidence rate of hearing loss was 11.9 per 10,000 people per month in the COVID-19 group, which was three times higher than the rate in the non-COVID-19 group. Similarly, they found that the incidence rate of sudden sensorineural hearing loss was also three times higher in the COVID-19 group. The analyses revealed the highest risk of hearing loss in young adults with diabetes, and the highest risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in those with diabetes and dyslipidemia. No significant interaction was found regarding COVID-19 vaccination status.
