Hearing Loss Risk Significantly Higher in People With Type 2 Diabetes, reveals research
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Researchers have identified in a new study that type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are far more likely to develop hearing loss than the general population. This is based on a massive systematic review and meta-analysis of almost 110,000 individuals that gives the most current and inclusive estimates on the prevalence, type, and severity of hearing impairment in T2DM individuals. The study was published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery journal by Cory H. and colleagues.
Based on the study, individuals with T2DM are over two times more likely to develop clinically meaningful hearing loss (relative risk = 2.3), highlighting the importance of regular hearing tests to be incorporated as a component of diabetes management plans. The evidence was gathered from 39 peer-reviewed studies across several databases and complied with strict PRISMA guidelines to ensure data quality and consistency.
This systematic analysis compared CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases data in assessing studies of the association between T2DM and hearing impairment. The studies included 39 that involved 88,395 patients with T2DM and 20,337 controls.
The main outcomes measured were continuous values such as mean hearing threshold, types of hearing loss proportions, severity degrees, and 95% confidence intervals relative risk ratios. The mean age of the participants was 50.3 years in the diabetic group and 46.7 years in the control group. Females comprised about 63.8% of the T2DM group and 64.3% of the control group.
Participants with T2DM had a median duration of diabetes of 9.1 years (95% CI: 8.1–10.1) and a mean HbA1c of 8.4% (95% CI: 8.1–8.6), and the control group had a mean HbA1c of 4.8% (95% CI: 3.9–5.7), reflecting significantly worse glycemic control in the diabetic group.
Key Findings
Prevalence of hearing loss:
T2DM: 53.0%
Control: 25.2%
Proportional difference (∆): 27.7% (p < .0001)
Relative risk (RR): 2.3 (95% CI: 1.1–4.8)
Hearing loss types in T2DM patients:
Conductive hearing loss: 5.0%
Sensorineural hearing loss: 46.2%
Mixed hearing loss: 10.4%
Hearing loss severity (WHO classification):
Mild (26–40 dB): 22.1%
Moderate (41–60 dB): 25.5%
Severe (61–80 dB): 8.5%
Profound (>80 dB): 1.7%
All severity grades were more prevalent in T2DM patients (p ≤ .0001)
Laterality of hearing impairment in T2DM:
Unilateral hearing impairment: 15.0% (p = .008)
Bilateral hearing loss: 29.6% (p < .0001)
This meta-analysis reaffirms that persons with type 2 diabetes are at greater than twice the risk of acquiring clinically relevant hearing loss when compared to non-diabetics. Proactive screening, particularly in long-established or poorly managed diabetes, may result in earlier diagnosis and intervention, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.
Reference:
Kim, C. H., Lauritsen, K. L., Nguyen, S. A., Meyer, T. A., Cumpston, E. C., Pelic, J., & Labadie, R. (2025). Characteristics of Hearing Loss in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 10.1002/ohn.1378. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.1378
