Psoriasis Increases the Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Longitudinal Follow Up Study Using a National Sample Cohort

Psoriasis is a well-known immune-mediated disease. Its autoimmune pathophysiology is consistent with the immune-mediated systemic vascular hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The purpose of our study was to investigate whether psoriasis affects the prevalence of SSNHL in all age groups matched by age, sex, income, and region of residence. Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Samples were collected from 2002 to 2013. A 1:4 matched psoriasis group (n = 12,864) and control group (n = 51,456) were selected. The crude (simple) and adjusted (Charlson comorbidity index) hazard ratios (HR) for psoriasis and SSNHL were analyzed using the stratified Cox proportional hazard model. The incidence of SSNHL was significantly higher in the psoriasis group than in the control group (0.5% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.004). Psoriasis increased the risk of SSNHL (adjusted HR = 1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09–1.90, p = 0.010). In the stratification analysis, the incidence of SSNHL was significantly higher in the 30–59-year-old group than other group SSNHL (adjusted HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.06–2.12, p = 0.023). In addition, SSNHL occurred significantly more frequently in men with psoriasis (adjusted HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.17–2.49, p = 0.006). Psoriasis increased the risk of SSNHL, and SSNHL was more prevalent in between the age of 30–59-year-olds and men with psoriasis.