Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the effects of systemic steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Yu-Ching Chen,
Yu-Hsi Liu,
Bor‐Hwang Kang,
Cai-Sin Yao,
Yao-Shen Chen,
Wen-Chung Liu
Affiliations
Yu-Ching Chen
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC
Yu-Hsi Liu
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Biomedical Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, No.70 Lien-hai Road, Kaohsiung, 804201, Taiwan, ROC
Bor‐Hwang Kang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, No.20, Weixin Rd., Yanpu Township, Pingtung County, 907101, Taiwan, ROC; School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No.161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City, 11490, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, No.325, Sec.2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City, 114202, Taiwan, ROC
Cai-Sin Yao
Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Business Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, No.70 Lien-hai Road, Kaohsiung, 804201, Taiwan, ROC
Yao-Shen Chen
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC
Wen-Chung Liu
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong St. Beitou Dist., Taipei City, 112304, Taiwan, ROC; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, No.70 Lien-hai Road, Kaohsiung, 804201, Taiwan, ROC; Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No.123, Dapi Road, Niaosong District, Kaohsiung City, 833401, Taiwan, ROC; Corresponding author. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. No.386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 813414, Taiwan, ROC.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of combined hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and steroid therapy in treating sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) Design: This retrospective analysis included 505 patients diagnosed with SSNHL from August 2017 to July 2022. The patients received either a systemic steroid (SS) alone or SS with HBOT. Hearing improvement was evaluated with pure-tone audiometry (PTA). Among the participants, 102 received SS + HBOT, whereas 403 were treated with SS alone. Results: The SS + HBOT group demonstrated significantly better improvement in the PTA threshold averaged across four low frequencies (PTA4) scores (22.7 ± 23.5 vs. 16.2 ± 21.4, P = 0.007) and higher response rates (≥15 dB improvement) and significant response (≥25 dB improvement) (61.8 % vs. 44.4 %, P = 0.002; and 43.1 % vs. 22.6 %, P 50 dB and younger individuals. Conclusions: HBOT improves the effectiveness of SS treatment in SSNHL, with notable benefits for younger patients and those with an initial hearing loss of >50 dB. HBOT exhibited more pronounced effects at lower frequencies. Initiating HBOT within 11 days of the SSNHL diagnosis is recommended, and a regimen of five sessions is indicated for optimal results.
