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Prevalence of hearing loss in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a multisystem autoimmune disease, primarily targeting salivary and lacrimal glands; skin, nasal and vaginal dryness, along with musculoskeletal pain and fatigue are the most commonly reported symptoms. Hearing loss is hypothesized to be frequent as well. The purpose of this systematic review was to estimate the prevalence of Hearing loss and its different subtypes in patients with Sjögren syndrome. PRISMA guidelines were followed to ensure highest quality for our systematic review. A random effects model meta-analysis and meta-regression was conducted using I2 as heterogeneity indicator. Eleven observational studies were included in this systematic review. Ten of them were cross-sectional, while one study was case–control. Studies were assessed for risk of bias: all were rated to a moderate level, except for two rated to a low level. Pooled prevalence of any type of hearing loss was 52.2%. After excluding studies rated to moderate bias, the pooled prevalence of hearing loss was 36.7%. We also conducted a subgroup analysis depending on type of hearing loss. Pooled prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss was 42.6%., while pooled prevalence of conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss were 5% and 2.3%, respectively. Meta-regression was conducted in an effort to identify possible variables capable to explain high heterogeneity between studies. Sample size and year of study were separately found to account for a portion of heterogeneity between studies of sensorineural hearing loss. Year of study was also found to account for a portion of heterogeneity between studies of conductive hearing loss. In conclusion, sensorineural hearing loss, is highly prevalent in patients with Sjögren syndrome. On this basis, early screening and follow-up of patients with Sjögren syndrome by pure tone audiometry is important.

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Acknowledgements

We do not have any financial relationship to this article.

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We did not receive any funding to conduct this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hellenic Police Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vasileios Paraschou & Pavlos Siolos

  2. 2nd Pulmonary Department, ‘Attikon’ University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Haidari, Athens, Greece

    Vasileios Paraschou

  3. Medical Department of Educational Central of Army Aviation, Greek Military Corps, Imathia, Greece

    Styliani Partalidou

  4. Internal Medicine Department, Euromedica, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Styliani Partalidou

  5. 1st Department of Pediatrics, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Pavlos Siolos

  6. 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Zoi Papadopoulou

  7. 2nd Internal Medicine Department, 424 General Military Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Nikolaos Chaitidis

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Contributions

PV and CN conceptualized, proposed and designed the study. PV and PS searched the literature, screened and selected the eligible studies. SP and PS assessed the quality of the studies included. PV, ZP and SP analyzed the data and carried out the statistical analyses. PV and NC contributed in drafting the manuscript, and all other authors reviewed it critically. All authors take full responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Vasileios Paraschou.

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Paraschou, V., Partalidou, S., Siolos, P. et al. Prevalence of hearing loss in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatol Int 43, 233–244 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-022-05235-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-022-05235-9

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