Evaluating the Role of Triglyceride–Glucose Index in Sudden Hearing Loss

Abstract Objective This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index levels in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and explore its potential as a biomarker for early diagnosis or risk prediction. Methods This retrospective study included patients aged 18 years who were diagnosed with SSNHL from 2017 to 2024 following institutional ethics approval (2025-01/164). Complete fasting triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and audiometric data (baseline and 3-month pure tone averages) were required for eligibility. Patients with a history of chronic otitis media, otosclerosis, meniere’s disease, or prior ear surgery were excluded from the study. Hearing thresholds of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz were evaluated using the modified Siegel criteria. Statistical analyses were performed using R (version 4.4.1) and JASP (version 0.19.0), with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 396 patients were included, with 50% serving as the control group. No significant differences in age, sex, glucose, or TG levels were observed between the groups. However, the SSNHL group had significantly higher TyG index values ( p <0.001). The TyG index was strongly associated with the severity and recovery of hearing loss, as determined by the modified Siegel criteria (p < 0.001), and was positively correlated with hearing thresholds across frequencies. TyG was identified as an independent risk factor for SSNHL (Odds ratio = 0.55; p <0.001). However, the ROC analysis revealed limited discriminatory capacity (AUC = 0.619), indicating that TyG may not be a sufficient standalone diagnostic marker. Conclusion This study is among the first to analyze the relationship between SSHL and the TyG index. The TyG index was identified as an independent risk factor for SSNHL and may serve as a potential predictive biomarker, particularly within multivariate models.