(1) Background: The role of air pollutants as risk factors for tinnitus remains unclear. To address this gap in research, we conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study in Taiwan by integrating patients’ clinical data with daily air quality data to evaluate the environmental risk factors associated with tinnitus. (2) Methods: The Taiwan National Health Research Database (NHIRD) includes medical records for nearly all residents of Taiwan. To assess pollution levels, we used daily air quality data from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency regarding SO₂, CO, NO, NO_X, and particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀). We merged the NHIRD data with air quality information based on the residents’ locations and the positions of air quality monitoring stations. Pollutant levels were then categorized into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). (3) Results: This study included 284,318 subjects. After controlling for covariates, the adjusted HR (95 CI%) for tinnitus increased with increasing SO₂, CO, NO, NO_X, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ exposure levels, specifically from 1.24 (95 CI% = 1.18, 1.30) to 1.35 (95 CI% = 1.28–1.41); from 1.15 (95 CI% = 1.09, 1.21) to 1.90 (95 CI% = 1.81, 2.00); from 0.86 (95 CI% = 0.82, 0.91) to 1.69 (95 CI% = 1.62, 1.77); from 1.62 (95 CI% = 1.54, 1.71) to 1.69 (95 CI% = 1.60, 1.77); from 0.16 (95 CI% = 0.15, 0.18) to 2.70 (95 CI% = 2.57, 2.84); and from 2.53 (95 CI% = 2.38, 2.69) to 3.58 (95 CI% = 3.39, 3.78), respectively, compared to the Q1 concentrations for all air pollutants. (4) Conclusions: During the 15-year follow-up period, we found a significant positive correlation between air pollutant exposure and the risk of tinnitus.

Abatract: Background : Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common but underrecognized complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) use was associated with favorable renal and cardiovascular outcomes beyond glycemic control, but their impact on auditory outcomes remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cohort study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (2000–2021). Patients with T2DM who received SGLT2i for ≥ 90 days were compared with matched non-users. Propensity score matching was applied 1:1 based on demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics. The primary outcome was the incidence of SNHL, confirmed by audiometric testing. Results: A total of 381,592 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included. Compared with non-users, SGLT2i users exhibited a significantly lower risk of SNHL (adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.75–0.94). Subgroup analyses confirmed a consistent lower risk across sex, age, urbanization, and comorbidity strata. Notably, long-term SGLT2i use (≥ 366 days) showed a strong dose–response association with reduced SNHL risk (aHR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.27–0.39). Conclusion: SGLT2i use in T2DM patients is associated with a reduced risk of SNHL, particularly with sustained therapy. These findings highlight a potential association between SGLT2i use and a lower risk of auditory complications in diabetes, underscoring the importance of considering hearing health within comprehensive diabetes management.

(1) Background: The relationship between air pollution and the risk of developing aphasia is still unclear. We aimed to evaluate air pollution exposure as a risk factor for developing aphasia in Taiwan. (2) Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study used the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database (LGTD) and the Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Database (TAQMD). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) were calculated to examine the association between aphasia and exposure to six air pollutants: sulfur oxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) from 2003 to 2017. (3) Results: The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of aphasia showed that individuals with high levels of SO₂, CO, and NO were at a higher risk of developing aphasia. Increased exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) also increased the risk of developing aphasia. The adjusted HRs of the aphasia risk were statistically significant for all the air pollutants at higher concentrations. (4) Conclusions: Individuals exposed to ambient air pollutants have a significantly higher risk of developing aphasia. The greater the exposure to airborne particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, the more likely individuals are to develop aphasia.