Alopecia Areata Associated With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Alopecia areata (AA) has an association with increased sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), according to a study published in Dermatology.

Researchers aimed to investigate the association between AA and SNHL by performing a systematic review utilizing MEDLINE and Embase on July 25, 2022, to assess cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort studies that contained the association of AA with SNHL. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate risk of bias. They also conducted a random-effects model meta-analysis to evaluate the mean differences in frequency-specific hearing thresholds between patients with AA and age-matched healthy control patients, in addition to the pooled odds ratio for SNHL in relation to AA.

Results showed that patients with AA had higher mean differences in pure tone hearing thresholds at 4000 Hz and 12000 to 12500 Hz, and the meta-analysis found increased odds for SNHL among patients with AA. These results came from analyzing 5 case-control studies and 1 cohort study, none of which had a high risk of bias.

“AA is associated with an increase of SNHL, especially at high frequencies. Otologic consultation may be indicated if AA patients present with hearing loss or tinnitus,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Lien KH, Ger TY, Chi CC. Association of alopecia areata with sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatology. Published online April 24, 2023. doi:10.1159/000530784