Association between dyslipidemia and diagnoses related to sensorineural hearing loss: a retrospective case–control study

Objective To examine the association between dyslipidemia and sensorineural hearing loss–related diagnoses among otologic inpatients. Methods This single-center retrospective case–control study included 580 otologic inpatients who underwent lipid and metabolic testing at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. Of these, 284 patients had sensorineural hearing loss–related diagnoses and 296 served as controls. Demographic characteristics, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and renal function–related indicators were collected. Associations between lipid parameters and the outcome were assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Robustness was further evaluated through sensitivity analyses with a narrower outcome definition, categorical lipid variables, restricted cubic spline models, quartile-based trend analyses, and subgroup and interaction analyses. Results The case group had higher triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, and uric acid levels, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the control group, with statistically significant differences. After adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index, higher triglyceride levels were associated with increased odds of the outcome (OR = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.012–1.411, p = 0.036), as were higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (OR = 1.268, 95% CI: 1.030–1.562, p = 0.025). In contrast, higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were associated with lower odds of the outcome (OR = 0.484, 95% CI: 0.290–0.807, p = 0.005). After further adjustment for available metabolic covariates, triglycerides (OR = 1.202, 95% CI: 1.015–1.423, p = 0.033), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 1.284, 95% CI: 1.039–1.588, p = 0.021), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 0.501, 95% CI: 0.299–0.842, p = 0.009) remained significantly associated with diagnoses related to sensorineural hearing loss. These associations remained generally consistent in sensitivity analyses restricted to sudden deafness or sudden hearing loss and in models using categorical lipid variables. Restricted cubic spline and quartile analyses suggested dose-related associations, with higher triglyceride and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels linked to increased odds of the outcome. Conclusion Among otologic inpatients, higher triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, together with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, were associated with sensorineural hearing loss–related diagnoses. These findings were generally consistent across supplementary analyses, suggesting that dyslipidemia may represent a metabolic feature in this patient population.