title: Risk of depressive disorders following sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) occurs as an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing that can cause significant stress in the affected individual. This study aims to assess the risk of depressive disorders in SSNHL patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan, we identified new SSNHL patients diagnosed by an otolaryngologist between January 01, 2000, and December 31, 2008. A control group was composed of individuals who had never suffered from SSNHL. A total of 1717 SSNHL patients and 6868 individuals without SSNHL who were matched by sex, age and index date were followed until December 31, 2009, unless otherwise diagnosed with depressive disorders by a psychiatrist or deceased.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results found that after adjusting for patients' age, sex, comorbidities, urbanization, and monthly income, SSNHL patients are 2.17 times more at risk (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-3.08, p<.001) for depressive disorders then control patients, especially in younger age groups (<60 years old).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated an increased risk of developing depressive disorders in patients with SSNHL, particularly for younger patients. Symptoms of depression should be regularly evaluated in patients with SSNHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Beitou branch, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mu-En
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Albert C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Chiayi Branch, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. Electronic address: pures1000@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Cheng-Che
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: tsai610913@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000523:psychology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult