Calcium Channel Blockers and the Risk of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVE To evaluate calcium channel blockers as a potential prophylactic agent for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).Patients: We used a retrospective cohort of US veterans treated by the Veteran's Affairs healthcare system. Patients were included in the study if 1) they were diagnosed with high blood pressure; 2) had no previous diagnosis of SNHL; 3) were prescribed a calcium channel blocker after diagnosis or as a control cohort, patients who had no antihypertensive medication use. INTERVENTION Patients were categorized into mutually exclusive cohorts by their antihypertensive medication exposure: calcium channel blocker exposed and no antihypertensive medication exposure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Incident SNHL was defined as an inpatient or outpatient record with diagnosis codes international classification of diseases (ICD)-9-CM 389.1 or ICD-10-CM H90, H90.41, H90.42, H90.A21, H90.A22. An audiology or otolaryngology clinic visit was required for patients with an outpatient diagnosis of SNHL. RESULTS A total of 1,338,409 patients met the inclusion criteria consisting of 292,981 patients with CCBs (25,614 with verapamil and 267,367 with other CCBs) and 1,045,428 patients with no antihypertensive medication. On average, patients were middle-aged, White men with a body mass index (BMI) of 30+. Cox proportional hazards model estimates from propensity score matched data revealed CCB users had a 23.6% decreased risk of SNHL compared with those with no antihypertensive medication use (hazard ratios [HR] = 0.764; 95% confidence interval = [0.752-0.777]). CONCLUSION This analysis found evidence supporting the theory that calcium channel blockers might be a potential prophylactic agent for sensorineural hearing loss. Additional research is warranted.