Association of sensorineural hearing loss and pseudoexfoliation syndrome:a meta-analysis

Background:Previous studies that assessed the association of sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL)and pseudoexfoliation syndrome(PEX)produced contradictory results.We conducted a meta-analysis to further evaluate this relationship.Methods:Eligible studies that evaluated the association between SNHL and PEX were identified.Summary odds ratios(ORs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs)were calculated employing random-effects models.Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to assess heterogeneity by several covariates.Publication bias was tested by Begg’s funnel plot and Egger’s regression test.Results:A total of 14 eligible studies,involving 1,142 PEX patients and 9,914 controls,were included in this meta-analysis.Overall analysis showed that patients with PEX,when compared with the control group,experienced a significantly increased risk for hearing loss[OR:3.74(95%CI:2.56 to 5.47);P<0.001].Substantial heterogeneity was observed.Subgroup analysis revealed a decrease in this heterogeneity in ageand sex-matched studies and in studies that used the same definition of hearing loss.Meta-regression analysis showed that definition of hearing loss contributed to substantial heterogeneity(P=0.044).No evidence of publication bias was observed.Discussion:We found that PEX is associated with an increased risk of SNHL.The effect of PEX on the prevalence of hearing loss indicates that PEX is clearly a systemic disease with potential otological complications.