Type 2 Diabetes Linked to SSNHL Risk

Mendelian randomization analysis shows independent association, with no link for type 1 diabetes, obesity, or hyperlipidemia.

By
Andrea Surnit
April 21, 2026
2 min

Conexiant

Objective:

To investigate the causal association between type 1 and 2 diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) using Mendelian randomization.

Approach:

Key Findings:

Genetically predicted type 2 diabetes was associated with a higher risk of SSNHL, with 1.18 times the odds in univariate MR analysis.
The association persisted after adjusting for obesity and hyperlipidemia, showing 1.17 times the odds of SSNHL.
No causal association was found between SSNHL and type 1 diabetes, obesity, or hyperlipidemia.

Interpretation:

Type 2 diabetes may be a potential risk factor for the onset of SSNHL, as indicated by consistent findings across various analyses.

Limitations:

Study limited to patients of European ancestry, affecting generalizability.
Limited statistical power due to the number of SSNHL cases.
Insufficiently detailed genome-wide association study data restricted subtype-specific evaluation of SSNHL.
Weaker instrument strength for hyperlipidemia may have impacted findings.