Predictor parameters for poor prognosis in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss: fibrinogen to albumin ratio vs C-reactive protein to albumin ratio

Abstract

Introduction: Prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be predicted using several parameters of laboratory blood analysis.

Objective: To identify and investigate the most significant indicator parameters related to the poor prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients were included, and three groups were constituted: non-recovery group with14 patients, recovery group with 33 patients and control group with 41 individuals. We compared fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio, C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell and hemoglobin of the groups. Then, we investigated the most significant indicator parameters related to the poor prognosis of sudden hearing loss.

Results: The mean hemoglobin, mean platelet-lymphocyte ratio and median white blood cell values did not significantly differ among three groups (p=0.36, p=0.86 and p=0.79, respectively). A significant difference of median fibrinogen-albumin ratio, C-reactive protein-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was evident among three groups (p<0.001, p=0.003 and p=0.002, respectively). Median fibrinogen-albumin ratio, C-reactive protein-albumin ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values were significantly greater in the non-recovery group, compared with the controls (p<0.001, p=0.003 and p=0.005, respectively). Median fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio, C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly greater in the recovery group, compared with the controls (p<0.001, p=0.013 and p=0.005, respectively). Moreover, the median fibrinogen-albumin ratio was significantly greater in the non-recovery group compared with the recovery group (p=0.017). However, no statistically significant difference of median C-reactive protein-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte was evident between the non-recovery and recovery groups (p=0.15).

Conclusion: Increased levels of fibrinogen-albumin ratio may be predictive for poor prognosis in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Keywords: Albumin; C-reactive protein; Fibrinogen; Sudden sensorineural hearing loss.