Hearing impairment among adults: The impact of cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors |
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| Authors: | Venla Lohi Samuli Hannula Pasi Ohtonen Martti Sorri Elina Mäki-Torkko |
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| Institution: | 1. *Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Oulu, Finland;2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Oulu, Finlandvenla.lohi@fimnet.fi;4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Oulu, Finland;5. Departments of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Oulu University Hospital, Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Oulu, Finland;6. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine/Technical Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Link?ping University, and Department of ENT-Head Neck Surgery, County Council of ?sterg?tland, Link?ping, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Objective: To investigate the influence of cardiovascular diseases on hearing impairment (HI) among adults. Furthermore, to seek other potential risk factors for HI, such as smoking, obesity, and socioeconomic class. Design: A cross-sectional, unscreened, population-based, epidemiological study among adults. Study sample: The subjects (n = 850), aged 54–66 years, were randomly sampled from the population register. A questionnaire survey, an otological examination, and pure-tone audiometry were performed. Results: Cardiovascular diseases did not increase the risk for HI in a propensity-score adjusted logistic regression model: OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.96 for HI defined by better ear hearing level (BEHL), and OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.28 for HI defined by worse ear hearing level (WEHL), in the 0.5–4 kHz frequency range. Heavy smoking is a risk factor for HI among men (BEHL: OR 1.96, WEHL: OR 1.88) and women (WEHL: OR 2.4). Among men, obesity (BEHL, OR 1.85) and lower socioeconomic class (BEHL: OR 2.79, WEHL: OR 2.28) are also risk factors for HI. Conclusion: No significant association between cardiovascular disease and HI was found. |
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| Keywords: | Hearing impairment adult cardiovascular disease diabetes body mass index smoking socioeconomic class |
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