Int J Med Sci 2026; 23(4):1577-1587. doi:10.7150/ijms.131397 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Risk of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

Jing-Yang Huang1,2,3, Yen-Ting Lu4,5,6, Chung-Han Hsin4,5, Tun-Shin Lo7,8, Chia-Yi Lee2, Shun-Fa Yang2,3, Corresponding address, Miao-Yu Liao9, Corresponding address

1. Department of Nursing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
2. Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
3. Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
4. School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
5. Department of Otolaryngology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
6. Department of Otolaryngology, St. Martin De Porres Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
7. Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
8. Department of Otolaryngology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
9. Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan.

Received 2026-1-13; Accepted 2026-3-13; Published 2026-3-17

Citation:
Huang JY, Lu YT, Hsin CH, Lo TS, Lee CY, Yang SF, Liao MY. Risk of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Int J Med Sci 2026; 23(4):1577-1587. doi:10.7150/ijms.131397. https://www.medsci.org/v23p1577.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are widely used antidiabetic agents with established glycemic efficacy. Peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment are inner ear conditions that may be influenced by metabolic and glycemic status. This study aimed to investigate the association between GLP-1 RA use and the development of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment. This retrospective cohort study identified patients who received GLP-1 RA treatment and matched them with non-GLP-1 RA users. After propensity score matching, a total of 684,092 participants were included, with 342,046 in the GLP-1 RA group and 342,046 in the non-GLP-1 RA groups. The primary outcomes were newly diagnosed peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment. Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to compare outcome incidences between groups. During the follow-up period, 4,407 cases of peripheral vestibular disorders occurred in the GLP-1 RA group compared with 3,946 cases in the non-GLP-1 RA group, indicating a significantly higher incidence among GLP-1 RA users (P < 0.001). Dizziness was diagnosed in 32,545 GLP-1 RA users and 29,931 nonusers, while hearing impairment occurred in 9,522 and 7,898 participants, respectively; both outcomes were significantly more frequent in the GLP-1 RA group (P < 0.001). Cumulative incidence analyses showed significantly higher risks for all three outcomes in the GLP-1 RA group. In conclusion, GLP-1 RA use may presented be with higher incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment in white population.

Keywords: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, peripheral vestibular disorder, hearing impairment, type 2 diabetes mellitus, epidemiology

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease that has a substantial impact on public health worldwide [1]. Insulin resistance and chronic hyperglycemia are the primary characteristics of T2DM and can lead to damage in multiple organ systems [2]. Patients with T2DM have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which may result in increased mortality [3]. In addition, microvascular complications, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic neuropathy, are associated with severe tissue damage and functional impairment [3, 4]. Consequently, the management of T2DM is a critical issue that cannot be overemphasized.

Several pharmacological agents are currently available for the management and control of T2DM [1, 2, 5]. Metformin has been prescribed for decades and remains a first-line antidiabetic medication with well-established efficacy and safety [6]. More recently, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) have demonstrated effective glycemic control in patients with T2DM [7]. In addition, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) are favorable antihyperglycemic agents and have shown significant reductions in blood glucose levels in previous studies [8]. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are another class of anti-diabetic medications that have gained popularity, demonstrating better outcomes compared to older anti-diabetic drugs [9, 10].

Although GLP-1 RAs have demonstrated excellent therapeutic outcomes in T2DM, including reductions in comorbidities [11], several adverse effects have been reported following their use [12]. Delayed gastric emptying, resulting in gastrointestinal discomfort, is a well-recognized complication associated with GLP-1 RA therapy [12]. In addition, a potential association between GLP-1 RA use and thyroid cancer has been suggested [13]. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the relationship between GLP-1 RA use and the development of inner ear disorders. Given that certain antidiabetic medications including GLP-1 RA and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may exert ototoxic effects [14], such an association is biologically plausible and warrants further investigation.

Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential association between GLP-1 RA use and the development of inner ear diseases, including peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment. Relevant confounders associated with these conditions were also incorporated and adjusted for in multivariable analyses.

Materials and Methods

Ethics Declaration

All procedures in the present study were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of 1964 and its subsequent amendments. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (Project code: CS1-24047). The requirement for written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board because all data were de-identified.

Data Source

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the TriNetX Research Network, a federated electronic health record-based research platform that includes large academic and community healthcare organizations. The TriNetX database contains comprehensive electronic medical records, including diagnoses, laboratory values, procedures, medications, and selected genomic information. The data used in this study were derived from the US Collaborative Network, which comprises approximately 110 healthcare organizations. TriNetX aggregates and de-identifies electronic health records from participating healthcare systems, most of which are large academic institutions providing both inpatient and outpatient care across diverse regions of the United States.

The TriNetX Analytics platform provides secure, web-based access to longitudinal clinical data from primary care, hospital, and specialty providers. Consequently, the database encompasses a wide range of age groups, geographic regions, racial and ethnic populations, insurance categories (including Medicare, Medicaid, military insurance, workers' compensation, self-pay, uninsured, Veterans Affairs insurance, and employer sponsored insurance), and income levels. Available data elements include International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic and psychosocial variables, educational attainment, hospitalization duration, imaging and surgical procedure codes, laboratory test results, and medication records classified using Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes.

Participant Selection

The study population included adults aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of T2DM identified using ICD-10-CM codes who had at least one clinical encounter between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2024. Treatment initiation was defined as the index date. A 90-day stabilization window surrounding the index date was applied to minimize exposure misclassification due to early treatment switching or combination therapy and to ensure robust identification of incident users. Participants were assigned to the GLP-1 RA group if they received their first recorded prescription for a GLP-1 RA during the study period according to ATC codes. The non-GLP-1 RA group included participants who initiated treatment with either a DPP-4i or a SGLT2i.

To enhance cohort homogeneity and reduce confounding, participants were excluded if any of the following conditions occurred before the index date or within the stabilization window: (1) diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus; (2) end-stage renal disease or dialysis dependence, identified by ICD-10-CM codes, dialysis procedure codes, or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <15 mL/min/1.73 m²; (3) exposure to comparator treatments (i.e., DPP-4i or SGLT2i for the GLP-1 RA group); (4) occurrence of study outcomes; or (5) death according to TriNetX mortality data. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics between the GLP-1 RA and non-GLP-1 RA groups using the PROC PSMATCH procedure in SAS. Propensity scores representing the probability of GLP-1 RA exposure were estimated using logistic regression incorporating multiple covariates. Each GLP-1 RA user was matched 1:1 to a nonuser using a nearest-neighbor greedy algorithm with a caliper width of 0.01. After matching, 342,046 participants were included in each group. The participant selection process is illustrated in Figure 1.

Primary Outcome

The primary outcomes were the development of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment. Peripheral vestibular disorders included Ménière's disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuronitis, and labyrinthitis, identified using corresponding ICD-10-CM codes. Dizziness was identified using relevant ICD-10-CM codes. Hearing impairment included sensorineural hearing loss, ototoxic hearing loss, and presbycusis. Of note, all the "peripheral vestibular disorders" "dizziness" and "hearing impairment" episode was diagnosed by an otolaryngology specialist. To improve diagnostic validity, only participants with repeated diagnostic records were considered to have achieved the study outcomes.

 Figure 1 

The flowchart of participant selection. N: number, T2DM: type 2 diabetes mellitus, GLP-1 RA: glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, PSM: propensity score-matching.

Int J Med Sci Image

Predisposing Factors

Baseline covariates were assessed during the 12-month period preceding the index date and included age, sex, race and ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), healthcare utilization, socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, comorbid conditions, medication use, and laboratory values. Comorbidities included hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, liver disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, transient ischemic attack, chronic lower respiratory disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, head injury, substance use disorders, migraine, and otitis media. Medication variables included antidiabetic agents, cardiovascular medications, ototoxic drugs, weight-loss medications, and chemotherapy agents. Surgical history included bariatric surgery and middle ear procedures. Laboratory measures included glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), eGFR, and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Participants were followed until outcome occurrence, loss to follow-up within the TriNetX network, or December 31, 2024.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). A modified intention-to-treat approach was applied, with follow-up beginning on day 91 after the index date. Baseline characteristics were summarized descriptively, and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used to assess covariate balance, with an SMD >0.1 indicating meaningful imbalance. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for study outcomes. The proportional hazards assumption was evaluated using generalized Schoenfeld residuals. Kaplan-Meier methods were applied to estimate cumulative incidence, with appropriate censoring. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted according to sex, race, age, BMI, glycemic control (HbA1c), and renal function (eGFR, calculated using the CKD-EPI equation). Time-to-event analyses were conducted within the TriNetX analytics platform using the R survival package (version 3.2-3). A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant, and P values <0.001 were reported as P < 0.001.

Results

The baseline characteristics of the GLP-1 RA and non-GLP-1 RA groups are presented in Table 1. Before propensity score matching, a total of 1,259,296 participants were included, with 481,014 in the GLP-1 RA group and 778,282 in the non-GLP-1 RA groups. After matching, 342,046 participants were included in each group. The mean age was 58.5 ± 12.0 years in the GLP-1 RA group and 58.5 ± 12.8 years in the non-GLP-1 RA group, with no significant difference between groups (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.0028). Demographic characteristics, including sex, race, socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, medical encounters, and healthcare utilization, were well balanced between the two groups (all SMDs < 0.1). Regarding systemic comorbidities, the distributions of all diseases included in the analysis were comparable between groups (all SMDs < 0.1). Use of SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors was more frequent in the non-GLP-1 RA group than in the GLP-1 RA group (both SMDs > 0.1), whereas the use of other medications, surgical procedures, and laboratory values did not differ significantly between groups (all SMDs < 0.1) (Table 1).

 Table 1 

Baseline characteristics among GLP-1 RA cohort and Non-GLP-1 RA cohort before and after propensity score matching.

Before matchingAfter propensity score matching
GLP-1 RA cohortNon-GLP-1 RA
cohort
SMDGLP-1 RA cohortNon-GLP-1 RA cohortSMD
N481014778282342046342046
Age at Index55.7 ± 13.062.2 ± 12.30.510258.5 ± 12.058.5 ± 12.80.0028
Sex
Female277928 (57.8%)333582 (42.9%)0.3017175910 (51.4%)175174 (51.2%)0.0043
Male202522 (42.1%)443804 (57.0%)0.3018165633 (48.4%)166492 (48.7%)0.0050
Race
White315164 (65.5%)428266 (55.0%)0.2157217101 (63.5%)218795 (64.0%)0.0103
Black or African American98176 (20.4%)127104 (16.3%)0.105565994 (19.3%)66016 (19.3%)0.0002
Asian15389 (3.2%)64028 (8.2%)0.217913927 (4.1%)13646 (4.0%)0.0042
Hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances6829 (1.4%)11443 (1.5%)0.00424136 (1.2%)4858 (1.4%)0.0185
Medical encounter
Preventive Medicine Services69273 (14.4%)47573 (6.1%)0.275832265 (9.4%)33231 (9.7%)0.0096
Inpatient Encounter47259 (9.8%)171056 (22.0%)0.337041273 (12.1%)42210 (12.3%)0.0084
Emergency62066 (12.9%)125988 (16.2%)0.093345625 (13.3%)47038 (13.8%)0.0121
Lifestyle
Nicotine dependence31526 (6.6%)57335 (7.4%)0.031922947 (6.7%)23318 (6.8%)0.0043
Alcohol related disorders5223 (1.1%)12972 (1.7%)0.04994118 (1.2%)4176 (1.2%)0.0015
Comorbidities
Type 2 diabetes mellitus with ophthalmic complications14682 (3.1%)24229 (3.1%)0.003512254 (3.6%)9719 (2.8%)0.0420
Hypoglycemia2032 (0.4%)4593 (0.6%)0.02361521 (0.4%)1435 (0.4%)0.0038
Dyslipidemia240175 (49.9%)406873 (52.3%)0.0470172831 (50.5%)173029 (50.6%)0.0012
Hypertensive diseases263033 (54.7%)460943 (59.2%)0.0918189469 (55.4%)190379 (55.7%)0.0054
Diseases of liver32613 (6.8%)47053 (6.0%)0.030020895 (6.1%)20821 (6.1%)0.0009
Chronic kidney disease31429 (6.5%)96248 (12.4%)0.200427732 (8.1%)28970 (8.5%)0.0131
Ischemic heart diseases46196 (9.6%)157421 (20.2%)0.301641163 (12.0%)42552 (12.4%)0.0124
Heart failure20040 (4.2%)100584 (12.9%)0.317219329 (5.7%)21220 (6.2%)0.0234
Cerebrovascular diseases14751 (3.1%)52591 (6.8%)0.171413084 (3.8%)13582 (4.0%)0.0075
Transient cerebral ischemic attacks2714 (0.6%)7941 (1.0%)0.05152290 (0.7%)2323 (0.7%)0.0012
Chronic lower respiratory diseases58791 (12.2%)90193 (11.6%)0.019638269 (11.2%)38997 (11.4%)0.0067
Mood disorders72315 (15.0%)74444 (9.6%)0.167140650 (11.9%)41380 (12.1%)0.0066
Anxiety disorders73790 (15.3%)75805 (9.7%)0.169740432 (11.8%)41313 (12.1%)0.0079
Schizophrenia1677 (0.3%)4337 (0.6%)0.03111382 (0.4%)1444 (0.4%)0.0028
Delirium445 (0.1%)2770 (0.4%)0.0557430 (0.1%)515 (0.2%)0.0067
Rheumatoid arthritis5183 (1.1%)7346 (0.9%)0.01343390 (1.0%)3435 (1.0%)0.0013
Superficial injury of the head1579 (0.3%)4655 (0.6%)0.03971296 (0.4%)1286 (0.4%)0.0005
Open wound of head1210 (0.3%)3437 (0.4%)0.0323993 (0.3%)1023 (0.3%)0.0016
Migraine14343 (3.0%)9671 (1.2%)0.12126468 (1.9%)6668 (1.9%)0.0043
Otitis media3436 (0.7%)2777 (0.4%)0.04901765 (0.5%)1657 (0.5%)0.0045
Medication
SGLT2 inhibitors0 (0.0%)415090 (53.3%)1.51190 (0.0%)204971 (59.9%)1.7293
DPP-4 inhibitors0 (0.0%)391931 (50.4%)1.42440 (0.0%)149252 (43.6%)1.2443
Metformin223352 (46.4%)436482 (56.1%)0.1940174195 (50.9%)172118 (50.3%)0.0121
Sulfonylureas65403 (13.6%)179488 (23.1%)0.246557770 (16.9%)58056 (17.0%)0.0022
Pioglitazone12959 (2.7%)34835 (4.5%)0.095911340 (3.3%)11472 (3.4%)0.0021
Insulin134876 (28.0%)245742 (31.6%)0.0773104011 (30.4%)105278 (30.8%)0.0080
Statins216118 (44.9%)451578 (58.0%)0.2642172767 (50.5%)172319 (50.4%)0.0026
Beta-blockers110194 (22.9%)282110 (36.2%)0.295491119 (26.6%)92430 (27.0%)0.0087
ACE inhibitors111656 (23.2%)202435 (26.0%)0.065086574 (25.3%)87219 (25.5%)0.0043
ARBs97574 (20.3%)222786 (28.6%)0.195076739 (22.4%)76316 (22.3%)0.0030
Calcium channel blockers89549 (18.6%)213176 (27.4%)0.209671842 (21.0%)72107 (21.1%)0.0019
Diuretics135821 (28.2%)262430 (33.7%)0.1188101320 (29.6%)102549 (30.0%)0.0079
Aspirin60921 (12.7%)196018 (25.2%)0.323853255 (15.6%)59676 (17.4%)0.0506
NSAIDs111522 (23.2%)152222 (19.6%)0.088576639 (22.4%)70635 (20.7%)0.0427
Systemic corticosteroids125759 (26.1%)186598 (24.0%)0.050183151 (24.3%)84089 (24.6%)0.0064
Orlistat215 (0.0%)71 (0.0%)0.0217112 (0.0%)40 (0.0%)0.0141
Phentermine8656 (1.8%)1833 (0.2%)0.15634378 (1.3%)1293 (0.4%)0.0996
Topiramate10261 (2.1%)6201 (0.8%)0.11145714 (1.7%)3788 (1.1%)0.0481
Naltrexone2717 (0.6%)1090 (0.1%)0.07171498 (0.4%)623 (0.2%)0.0460
Bupropion23991 (5.0%)18241 (2.3%)0.141014624 (4.3%)10281 (3.0%)0.0678
Aminoglycosides9828 (2.0%)24275 (3.1%)0.06797546 (2.2%)7601 (2.2%)0.0011
Macrolides31322 (6.5%)45387 (5.8%)0.028320685 (6.0%)20875 (6.1%)0.0023
Loop diuretics42581 (8.9%)130752 (16.8%)0.239436580 (10.7%)38170 (11.2%)0.0149
Cisplatin74 (0.0%)681 (0.1%)0.031862 (0.0%)143 (0.0%)0.0137
Carboplatin172 (0.0%)814 (0.1%)0.0260134 (0.0%)276 (0.1%)0.0170
Vancomycin12624 (2.6%)37983 (4.9%)0.118910838 (3.2%)11316 (3.3%)0.0079
Surgery procedures
Sleeve gastrectomy31 (0.0%)181 (0.0%)0.013819 (0.0%)38 (0.0%)0.0061
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass94 (0.0%)58 (0.0%)0.010442 (0.0%)48 (0.0%)0.0015
Surgical Procedures on the Middle Ear155 (0.0%)166 (0.0%)0.006799 (0.0%)79 (0.0%)0.0036
Healthcare utilization
Preventive medicine services69273 (14.4%)47573 (6.1%)0.275832265 (9.4%)33231 (9.7%)0.0096
Emergency department visits62066 (12.9%)125988 (16.2%)0.093345625 (13.3%)47038 (13.8%)0.0121
Inpatient encounters47259 (9.8%)171056 (22.0%)0.337041273 (12.1%)42210 (12.3%)0.0084
Lab data
BMI37.6 ± 8.332.3 ± 7.50.673335.6 ± 7.835.0 ± 7.60.0825
eGFR83.7 ± 26.677.8 ± 29.20.212481.2 ± 26.981.6 ± 28.70.0163
HbA1c8.0 ± 2.18.2 ± 2.00.08548.2 ± 2.18.3 ± 2.10.0259
LDLc96.9 ± 38.690.3 ± 39.30.170393.3 ± 39.193.5 ± 39.40.0059

BMI: body mass index, DPP-4i: dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate, GLP-1 RA: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin, LDL: low-density lipoprotein, N: number, NSAIDs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, SGLT2i: sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, SMD: standardized mean difference

* denotes significant difference between groups

 Figure 2 

The cumulative probability of primary outcomes between the two groups. GLP-1 RA: glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist.

Int J Med Sci Image

During a follow-up period of up to 9 years, 4,407 and 3,946 cases of peripheral vestibular disorders were identified in the GLP-1 RA and non-GLP-1 RA groups, respectively. The GLP-1 RA group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of peripheral vestibular disorders compared with the non-GLP-1 RA group [ hazard ratio (HR), 1.082; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.037-1.130; P < 0.001] (Table 2). Dizziness occurred in 32,545 participants in the GLP-1 RA group and 29,931 participants in the non-GLP-1 RA group, with a significantly higher risk observed among GLP-1 RA users (HR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.041-1.074; P < 0.001) (Table 2). With respect to hearing impairment, 9,522 and 7,898 events were recorded in the GLP-1 RA and non-GLP-1 RA groups, respectively. The incidence of hearing impairment was also significantly higher in the GLP-1 RA group (HR, 1.172; 95% CI, 1.137-1.207; P < 0.001) (Table 2). Kaplan-Meier analyses demonstrated that the cumulative incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment were significantly higher in the GLP-1 RA group than in the non-LP-1 RA group (all P < 0.001) (Figure 2A-2C). In subgroup analyses, GLP-1 RA users with specific characteristics, including Female, White race, body mass index (BMI) of 30-39 kg/m², HbA1c levels >7.0%, and eGFR> 60 exhibited significantly higher incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders compared with their non-GLP-1 RA counterparts, as indicated by 95% CIs exceeding unity (Figure 3). Additionally, GLP-1 RA users consistently demonstrated a higher risk of dizziness across most subgroups, except among participants of Black and Asian races, BMI > 40 kg/m², and HbA1c levels < 7.0%, for whom the 95% CIs included 1 (Figure 4). Similarly, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significantly increased incidence of hearing impairment across most subgroups, except among participants of Asian race (Figure 5).

 Figure 3 

The forest plot for the cumulative probabilities of peripheral vestibular disorders in different subgroups. BMI: body mass index, CI: confidence interval, eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate, HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin.

Int J Med Sci Image
 Figure 4 

The forest plot for the cumulative probabilities of dizziness in different subgroups. BMI: body mass index, CI: confidence interval, eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate, HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin.

Int J Med Sci Image
 Figure 5 

The forest plot for the cumulative probabilities of hearing impairment in different subgroups. BMI: body mass index, CI: confidence interval, eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate, HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin.

Int J Med Sci Image
 Table 2 

Main outcomes between the two groups.

Study eventN of eventCumulative probability of study event since index dateHazard ratio (95% CI)P value
1-year5-year10-years
Peripheral vestibular disorders
GLP-1 RA cohort4,4070.29%1.87%4.26%1.082 (1.037-1.130)<0.001*
Non-GLP-1 RA cohort3,9460.28%1.79%3.97%Reference
Dizziness symptoms
GLP-1 RA cohort32,5452.51%13.89%28.31%1.057 (1.041-1.074)<0.001*
Non-GLP-1 RA cohort29,9312.40%13.11%28.23%Reference
Hearing impairment
GLP-1 RA cohort9,5220.65%4.08%10.00%1.172 (1.137-1.207)<0.001*
Non-GLP-1 RA cohort7,8980.54%3.46%8.05%Reference

CI: confidence interval, GLP-1 RA: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, N: number

* denotes significant difference between groups

Discussion

In the present study, use of GLP-1 RAs was associated with a higher incidence of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment compared with non-GLP-1 RA use. In addition, the cumulative incidences of these outcomes were significantly greater among GLP-1 RA users throughout the follow-up period. The increased risks of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment associated with GLP-1 RA use were generally consistent across most subgroups, except among participants of Black and Asian races.

Peripheral vestibular disorders comprise a group of conditions that primarily affect the structures of the inner ear [15, 16]. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is characterized by dizziness, vertigo, and spinning sensations, often accompanied by nystagmus [17]. The pathophysiology of BPPV involves dislodgement of otoconia from the utricle, a process in which glycemic status may play a contributory role [17]. Menière's disease is also characterized by episodic dizziness and vertigo and is thought to result from endolymphatic hydrops, electrolyte imbalance, and hyperinsulinemia, all of which may disrupt inner ear homeostasis [18, 19]. Treatment options for Ménière's disease include diuretics and anti-inflammatory agents [17]. Vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis are associated with inflammation, glycemic fluctuations, and viral infections, and anti-inflammatory therapy may be beneficial in their management [17, 18, 20].

Dizziness is a nonspecific symptom with multifactorial etiologies, including viral infection, inflammation, and fluctuations in blood glucose levels [21, 22]. Hearing impairment commonly presents with muffled hearing, difficulty understanding speech, and tinnitus [23]. Established risk factors for hearing loss include advanced age, noise exposure, exposure to ototoxic medications, and dysregulated glycemic status, including both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia [24, 25]. Management strategies for hearing impairment include discontinuation of ototoxic agents, use of hearing aids, and optimization of glycemic control [23]. GLP-1 RAs are well-established antihyperglycemic agents with proven efficacy in patients with T2DM [26]. However, GLP-1 RA therapy has been associated with adverse effects involving the gastrointestinal, biliary, and thyroid systems, which may influence electrolyte balance [12, 13, 27]. Additionally, GLP-1 RAs have been reported to suppress matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity, potentially promoting a prothrombotic milieu that may impair inner ear microcirculation [14]. Excessive dosing of GLP-1 RAs may also increase the risk of hypoglycemia [9]. Taken together, these mechanisms provide biological plausibility for an association between GLP-1 RA use and inner ear disorders. On the other side, the liraglutide treatment, a type of GLP-1 RA, could mitigate the hearing damage and impairment induced by multiday repeated high-intensity blasts in several previous studies [28, 29], and the liraglutide also own anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects for neurological diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer disease [30]. Consequently, additional study is warranted to evaluate the effect of GLP-1 RA on hearing system. The findings of the present study may support the hypothesis that GLP-1 RA could insult the inner ear system.

Use of GLP-1 RAs was associated with higher incidences of subsequent peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment compared with non-GLP-1 RA use. Previous studies have reported an association between hypoglycemic states and the occurrence of peripheral vestibular disorders [31]. In addition, prior research has demonstrated that the magnitude of glycemic reduction achieved with GLP-1 RAs is greater than that observed with DPP-4i [26]. However, to date, no studies have specifically evaluated the potential association between GLP-1 RA use and the subsequent development of peripheral vestibular disorders or hearing impairment. To our knowledge, the findings of the present study provide preliminary evidence suggesting a possible association between GLP-1 RA administration and the subsequent development of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment. Importantly, participants with diagnoses of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, or hearing impairment before the index date or during the washout period were excluded, thereby strengthening the temporal relationship between exposure and outcomes. Furthermore, multiple established risk factors for peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment, including age, cardiovascular disease, use of ototoxic medications, and history of middle ear surgery, were accounted for and balanced in the Cox proportional hazards regression models [18, 23]. Therefore, GLP-1 RA use may be independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment. Cumulative incidence analyses further demonstrated consistently higher risks of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment in the GLP-1 RA group. These findings suggest that long-term users of GLP-1 RAs may warrant closer clinical monitoring for potential auditory and vestibular complications compared with short-term users.

Regarding the sensitivity analyses, GLP-1 RA users with various clinical characteristics generally demonstrated higher incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment compared with non-GLP-1 RA users, except among participants of Black and Asian races. Previous studies have identified advanced age as a major risk factor for the development of both peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment [16, 23]. In addition, female sex and metabolic conditions, including obesity, have been associated with an increased risk of BPPV [16, 32]. Poor glycemic control has also been linked to the development of hearing impairment in prior literature [23]. Accordingly, it is plausible that individuals with these characteristics who received GLP-1 RA therapy exhibited higher incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, and hearing impairment than their counterparts who did not receive GLP-1 RA treatment. In contrast, GLP-1 RA users of Black and Asian races did not demonstrate significantly higher incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders, dizziness, or hearing impairment compared with nonusers of the same racial groups. Limited evidence exists to explain this finding. One possible explanation is the relatively small sample size of these subpopulations, as only approximately 24% of participants were of Black or Asian race. A similar limitation may apply to participants with a BMI greater than 40 kg/m², who comprised only 17% of the study population. The lack of statistical significance in these subgroups may therefore be attributable to insufficient statistical power, and differences between GLP-1 RA and non-GLP-1 RA groups may emerge with larger sample sizes. Further studies are warranted to confirm this hypothesis. From an epidemiological perspective, T2DM is a highly prevalent disease worldwide, affecting more than 500 million individuals, with a reported prevalence of approximately 14% among elderly populations in China [2, 33]. GLP-1 RAs are commonly prescribed in patients with T2DM, and at least seven GLP-1 RA agents are currently available globally [9]. Similarly, dizziness is one of the most common clinical complaints, with a lifetime prevalence ranging from 15% to 35% [22]. Hearing impairment affects a substantial proportion of the population, with an estimated prevalence of 67% among individuals aged 70 years or older in the United States [24, 34]. Given the large and overlapping populations of GLP-1 RA users and individuals affected by these inner ear disorders, any potential association between GLP-1 RA use and auditory or vestibular outcomes warrants careful investigation and clinical attention.

Several limitations of the present study should be acknowledged. First, the TriNetX database captures structured data such as demographic information, diagnostic codes, laboratory results, procedures, and medication records, but does not include detailed clinical narratives. Consequently, several important variables were unavailable, including the duration and clinical course of T2DM, actual dosages and cumulative exposure to antidiabetic medications, medication adherence, detailed symptom profiles of peripheral vestibular disorders, treatment strategies and prognoses for vestibular disorders and dizziness, pure-tone audiometry results, laterality and management of hearing impairment, and detailed information on other systemic conditions. Second, the retrospective design of this study may have introduced residual confounding and reduced cohort homogeneity, which could influence the results. Although propensity score matching achieved good balance in baseline characteristics between the two groups, differences related to unmeasured confounders may still exist which include the impacts of lifestyle, noise exposure, family history, medication adherence. Third, while exposure to SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors was excluded in the GLP-1 RA group, the potential effects of other antidiabetic medications could not be fully eliminated and may have influenced outcome assessment. Some participants may have received self-paid GLP-1 RA treatments (e.g., tirzepatide) that were not captured in the TriNetX system and were therefore misclassified as non-GLP-1 RA users, potentially leading to exposure misclassification and bias toward the null. The possible mechanisms for the correlation between GLP-1 RA treatments to peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment were not confirmed by laboratory evaluation due to the database nature. Accordingly, the negative effect of GLP-1 RA treatments on the peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment might be an observed finding rather than a causal relationship. Finally, the major population of TriNetX database is the white population and we excluded distinctions for some racial groups like the Hispanic ethnicity, thus the generalizability of our results may be low especially for the non-white populations considering the existing differences in disease prevalence and healthcare access across groups/ethnicities.

In conclusion, GLP-1 RA use may be presented with higher incidences of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment compared with non-GLP-1 RA use after adjustment for multiple confounders in white population. Furthermore, the risk of developing these inner ear disorders was observed in those with longer durations of GLP-1 RA exposure. These findings suggest that patients with T2DM receiving long-term GLP-1 RA therapy may benefit from routine ontological evaluation for early detection of vestibular and auditory disorders. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted to elucidate the relationship between GLP-1 RA use and peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment.

Acknowledgements

This study was also supported by grants from the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taiwan (CSH-2025-C-006).

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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Author contact

Corresponding address Corresponding authors: Shun-Fa Yang, Ph.D. or Miao-Yu Liao, MD, PhD. Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan; Tel: +886-4-24739595 ext. 34253; Fax: +886-4-24723229; E-mail: ysfedu.tw (Shun-Fa Yang); E-mail: liaomiaoyucom (Miao-Yu Liao).


Citation styles

APA
Huang, J.Y., Lu, Y.T., Hsin, C.H., Lo, T.S., Lee, C.Y., Yang, S.F., Liao, M.Y. (2026). Risk of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 23(4), 1577-1587. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.131397.

ACS
Huang, J.Y.; Lu, Y.T.; Hsin, C.H.; Lo, T.S.; Lee, C.Y.; Yang, S.F.; Liao, M.Y. Risk of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Int. J. Med. Sci. 2026, 23 (4), 1577-1587. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.131397.

NLM
Huang JY, Lu YT, Hsin CH, Lo TS, Lee CY, Yang SF, Liao MY. Risk of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Int J Med Sci 2026; 23(4):1577-1587. doi:10.7150/ijms.131397. https://www.medsci.org/v23p1577.htm

CSE
Huang JY, Lu YT, Hsin CH, Lo TS, Lee CY, Yang SF, Liao MY. 2026. Risk of peripheral vestibular disorders and hearing impairment among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Int J Med Sci. 23(4):1577-1587.

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