Fatty liver disease patients have high incidence of sudden hearing loss...Expectations for the Prevention of Hearing Loss

Jun 11, 2025

The incidence of sudden sensory nerve hearing loss was significantly higher in the diagnosis group of metabolic abnormal fatty liver disease.

Kang Eun-seok and Jang Seo-hee, a researcher in the medical informatics class at Korea University School of Medicine, used cohort data from the National Health Insurance Corporation to uncover the link between metabolic abnormal fatty liver disease (MASLD) and sudden sensory nerve hearing loss (SSNHL).

This study is a leading study that directly deals with the connection between the two diseases that have been overlooked, and presents a new direction in related fields.

Hearing loss is a major public health problem common in the elderly, and in particular, sudden sensory nerve hearing loss is an idiopathic disease in which hearing loss rapidly decreases within 72 hours without a clear cause. As a result, it is difficult to identify high-risk groups and it is not easy to prevent and manage them.

The research team analyzed the follow-up data accumulated for about nine years and found that the incidence of sudden hearing loss was significantly high in the fatty liver disease diagnosis group. In addition, this study emphasized that fatty liver disease is not just a simple liver disease, but can also negatively affect auditory health through systemic inflammation and metabolic abnormalities.

In particular, if elderly fatty liver disease patients detect and treat hearing loss early through regular hearing checkups, the possibility of preventing poor quality of life due to poor hearing function was suggested. This suggests that fatty liver disease may be a controllable risk factor for sudden hearing loss, indicating that lifestyle improvement and medical management may contribute to auditory health protection.

Professor Jeong Seok-song of the Medical Informatics Class at Korea University School of Medicine, an advisor, said "This publication of SCI-class papers is the first step in proving the potential of young researchers" and "It is expected that we will continue to make great efforts in academia and medical fields based on our outstanding research capabilities and initiatives"

On the other hand, the study was published in the May issue of the international journal 『Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology』 published by the American Society of Otolaryngology』 under the title 『Agence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease With Sudden Sensory Hearing Loss Among Older Adults』'.