Hearing impairment among adults: The impact of cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors

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.

Key Words::

• Hearing impairment
• adult
• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• body mass index
• smoking
• socioeconomic class

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by VTR funding of Oulu University Hospital and the European ARHI Project (QLRT-2001-00331). The authors would like to express their gratitude to the ARHI partners. We would also like to thank the staff of the Hearing Centre of the Oulu University Hospital and other staff who helped us to conduct the project.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.