title: Nationwide epidemiological survey of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using a large-scale nationwide survey database, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics for idiopathic SSNHL in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects for this analysis were patients registered in a Japanese multicentre database between April 2014 and March 2016. A total of 3419 idiopathic SSNHL patients were registered in the database, and the clinical characteristics of the idiopathic SSNHL patients were obtained. Several factors associated with the severity of hearing impairment and prognosis were then investigated. Statistical analysis was performed to clarify the factors associated with the severity of hearing impairment and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant correlations between the severity of hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, past history of brain infarction, heart disease, age (under 16 years/elderly), and symptoms of vertigo/dizziness. We also analyzed the prognostic factors for idiopathic SSNHL, and found that the severity of hearing loss (Grade 3 or 4), heart disease, aged 65 years or over, time from onset to treatment (over 7 days), and symptoms of vertigo/dizziness were all significantly related to poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present large-scale clinical survey revealed current epidemiological trends for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and various factors associated with the severity of hearing impairment and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitoh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery , Keio University School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Sho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otolaryngology , Ehime University School of Medicine , Toon , Japan.
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hato
authors.affiliation: d Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan.
authors.forename: Michihiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.affiliation: e Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine , Sapporo , Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: f Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: g Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Saitama School of medicine , Moroyama , Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikezono
authors.affiliation: h Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital , National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities , Tokorozawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: i Department of Otolaryngology , International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.affiliation: j Division of Hearing and Balance Research , National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaga
authors.affiliation: k Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Yamagata University School of Medicine , Yamagata , Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakehata
authors.affiliation: l Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine , Hirosaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.affiliation: j Division of Hearing and Balance Research , National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.affiliation: m Department of Otolaryngology , Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi , Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: n Department of Otolaryngology , Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital , Kobe , Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.affiliation: o Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Fukuoka , Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: p Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.affiliation: q Department of Otolaryngology , Kitasato University School of Medicine , Sagamihara , Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: r Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Iwate Medical University , Morioka , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: s Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine , University of the Ryukyus , Nishihara , Japan.
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: t Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , University of Toyama , Toyama , Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shojaku
authors.affiliation: u Department of Otolaryngology , Nagasaki University Faculty of Medicine , Nagasaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: v Department of Otolaryngology , Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Toranomon Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.affiliation: w Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Miyazaki , Miyazaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Testuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tono
authors.affiliation: x Department of Otolaryngology , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: y Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamasoba
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Usami
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss; corticosteroids; epidemiological survey; intratympanic; prognostic factors; severity of hearing impairment