International journal of audiology
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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in Herpes zoster patients from a representative population cohort. Design: A longitudinal follow-up studyStudy sample: Data were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort for the period from 2002 to 2013. We matched 61,702 subjects in the Herpes zoster group with subjects in a control group (246,808 subjects with no history of Herpes zoster) based on demographic factors (age, sex, income, and region of residence) and medical history (diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension). ⋯ The Herpes zoster group did not exhibit a higher rate of SSNHL (adjusted HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72-0.91, p < 0.001) than the control group. In subgroup analyses, no age subgroups showed a significant risk of SSNHL in the Herpes zoster group. Conclusions: After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of SSNHL did not increase in the Herpes zoster group compared with the control group.