Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Facial Palsy in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma Based on the Population Data of Korea

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy in patients with vestibular schwannoma and the association of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy with vestibular schwannoma were investigated based on the population data of Korea. METHODS: This retrospective study used the Korean National Health Insurance Service data. Patients with vestibular schwannoma and those with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy were identified based on diagnostic, medication, magnetic resonance imaging, or audiometric codes from 2005 to 2020. The control group was established with propensity score matching. The risk for vestibular schwannoma in patients with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy was analyzed. RESULTS: There were 5751 patients in the vestibular schwannoma group and 23 004 in the control group. The rate of patients with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the vestibular schwannoma group (25.8%) was significantly higher than in the control group (P < .0001), as was the rate of patients with a previous history of facial palsy in the vestibular schwannoma group (4.7%) (P < .0001). Previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss was a significant risk factor for vestibular schwannoma (hazard ratio = 7.109, 95% confidence interval = 6.696-7.547). Previous history of facial palsy was also a significant risk factor for vestibular schwannoma (hazard ratio = 3.048, 95% confidence interval = 2.695-3.447). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy was significantly higher in patients with vestibular schwan-noma than in those without vestibular schwannoma. Based on the population data of Korea, sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy were significant risk factors for vestibular schwannoma.