Study links age and early hearing levels to Meniere outcomes
A Taiwan-led review found younger patients and those with better pretreatment hearing had stronger long-term hearing outcomes in Meniere disease.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
2 min read
A retrospective study of people with Meniere disease found that age and hearing levels before treatment were associated with long-term hearing results. The findings may help clinicians identify which patients are more likely to keep better hearing over several years, according to research published online May 16 in Acta Oto-Laryngologica.
Ping-Chia Cheng, M.D., of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and colleagues reviewed records for 159 patients with Meniere disease, covering 179 affected ears. The team assessed hearing by using four-tone averages measured at 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Hz, then sorted outcomes into hearing stages, according to the study.
The patients were followed for an average of 4.7 years, the researchers reported. At the start of the review period, 36% of patients were classified as stage I or II, while 64% were classified as stage III or IV.
After treatment, the distribution changed only slightly, according to the authors. The study found that 33% of patients remained in stage I or II, and 67% were in stage III or IV.
In a multivariate analysis, two factors independently predicted better long-term hearing status, which the researchers defined as stage I or II. Patients younger than 58 had higher odds of better hearing outcomes, with an odds ratio of 6.28, according to Cheng and colleagues.
Pretreatment hearing level was the stronger predictor in the study. Patients whose four-tone average before treatment was below 50.0 dB had higher odds of a better long-term hearing category, with an odds ratio of 28.52, the researchers reported.
The authors also described different patterns by sound frequency. They reported that low-frequency hearing was more likely to improve or remain stable with medical management, while hearing in the middle and higher frequency ranges could continue to decline over time.
Cheng and colleagues said the results could inform treatment planning for Meniere disease. They wrote that earlier intervention may be especially relevant for younger patients whose hearing is still relatively preserved before treatment.
The study was published as “Long-term hearing outcomes and prognostic factors in Meniere's disease” in Acta Oto-Laryngologica. The research was reported by HealthDay.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.