Hypercholesterolemia as a risk factor for hearing loss: Do we have sufficient evidence?

Czech version

Authors: Zuzana Capová ¹; Lukáš Varga ^2,3
Authors‘ workplace: Klinika otorinolaryngológie, FN Nitra ¹; Klinika otorinolaryngológie, chirurgie hlavy a krku LF UK a UNB, Nemocnica sv. Cyrila a Metoda, Bratislava ²; Biomedicínske centrum SAV, Bratislava ³
Published in: AtheroRev 2020; 5(1): 22-24
Category:

Overview

Hypercholesterolemia and hearing loss belong to the most prevalent disorders in adult population. It is believed that hypercholesterolemia may contribute to hearing loss. More interestingly, statins were shown to have protective effect on hearing. The exact pathological mechanism how hypercholesterolemia may induce hearing impairment remains unclear. Chronic hypercholesterolemia may lead to glycogen accumulation inside the cochlea and cause edema in the region of the striae vascularis and cochlear outer hair cells. Vascular occlusion has also been suggested as a possible mechanism resulting in hearing loss. Moreover, increased lipid deposition in the inner ear was considered as an alternative mechanism that may induce hearing impairment. To date, literature review on the role of hypercholesterolemia in sensorineural hearing loss provides inconclusive results and limited evidence.

Keywords:

statins – hearing thresholds – Hypercholesterolemia

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