Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40405024›Full record

SynthesisEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2025

Evaluating hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to corticosteroids in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Khaled Moghib, Ali L Abbas Dawoud, Gergis Altalab, Mohamed Salah Syed, Izere Salomon, Halima Abdirashid Y Musse, Ossama Ahmed Mohamed Doubie, Ahmed I Elsekhary, Raneem Awni Al-Dalaeen, Gamal El-Din Hady Kandil

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Khaled MoghibFaculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9920-7075
Ali L Abbas DawoudFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azher University Damietta, New Damietta, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5614-6961
Gergis AltalabFaculty of Medicine, Merit University, Sohag, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-8034-3832
Mohamed Salah SyedFaculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-8002-2988
Izere SalomonUniversity of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda. izesajw73@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3067-560X
Halima Abdirashid Y MusseFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ossama Ahmed Mohamed DoubieFaculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Ahmed I ElsekharyFaculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-2952-7685
Raneem Awni Al-DalaeenFaculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1628-1427
Gamal El-Din Hady KandilDepartment of Otolaryngology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a medical emergency characterized by unexplained hearing loss, usually one-sided, of at least 30 dB across three or more contiguous frequencies within 72 h. This condition significantly impairs daily communication and has serious consequences for mental health, social relationships, and the overall quality of life. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is being investigated as a potential adjuvant treatment for SSNHL alongside systemic steroids.

objectivesThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HBOT combined with systemic corticosteroids compared with corticosteroids alone in patients with SSNHL.

methodWe searched PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify 14 studies that matched our inclusion criteria of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English, which evaluated HBOT alone or with corticosteroids in adults (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with SSNHL based on the AAO-HNS criteria, reporting pure-tone audiometry (PTA)-based outcomes. The analysis included 794 participants and evaluated outcomes such as improvements in Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) thresholds, rates of hearing recovery, and adverse events.

resultsResults indicated that the combined therapy of HBOT and systemic corticosteroids significantly improved low-frequency hearing thresholds (SMD: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.66-1.00, p < 0.0001) and increased the odds of complete recovery (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.41-2.98, p = 0.0002). However, significant heterogeneity (I² = 96.7%) and variations in the treatment protocols were observed. Adverse events, including vertigo, have been reported but are generally mild.

conclusionThis meta-analysis suggests that combining systemic corticosteroids with HBOT may improve hearing recovery in ISSNHL, particularly at lower frequencies within the first three months. However, high heterogeneity and the lack of statistical significance in the random-effects model call for cautious interpretation. Well-designed RCTs with standardized protocols and clear patient selection criteria are needed to confirm these findings. Future research should focus on identifying subgroups most likely to benefit and optimizing treatment protocols.

Indexed as

Adrenal Cortex HormonesHearing Loss, SensorineuralHearing Loss, SuddenHyperbaric OxygenationCombined Modality TherapyHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeAdrenal Cortex HormonesHyperbaric oxygen therapyIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing lossSensorineural hearing lossSteroid therapySudden hearing lossSystemic corticosteroids

Identifiers

PMID40405024

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.