Association between metabolic syndrome and sensorineural hearing loss: a cross-sectional study of 11,114 participants

Abstract

Background/objectives

Hearing loss (HL) is associated with certain diseases and affects health, resulting in a low quality of life. Some components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) coincide with the risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). To date, very few studies have examined the link between MetS and HL. The aim of the current study was to try to understand the potential association between MetS and HL.

Methods

Using Iranian health surveys of professional drivers, we enrolled 11,114 individuals aged 20–60 years, whose main job is to operate a motor vehicle. We examined participants for the presence and absence of SNHL and the components of the MetS. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between MetS and the pure tone air conduction hearing thresholds of participants with SNHL, including low-frequency and high-frequency thresholds.

Results

This cross-sectional study consisted of 11,114 participants: 3202 (28.81%) diagnosed with MetS and 7911 (71.18%) without and 2772 (24.94%) with SNHL and 8432 (75.86%) without. Participants with SNHL had a higher number of components of MetS (P<0.001 for all components).

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that an association possibly exists between different components of MetS (obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, high fasting glucose levels, and waist circumference) and SNHL in a population of West Azerbaijan drivers. Therefore, it is important to schedule periodic checkups for drivers to detect and avoid the increase in MetS components at an early stage in this population.

Keywords:

• metabolic syndrome
• obesity
• sensorineural hearing loss
• a cross-sectional study

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Urmia University of Medical Sciences (grant no. 2146), but the funder had no role in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, writing of the report, and decision to submit this paper for publication. This research is dedicated to Dr. M.M. Dilar. The authors thank the staff of Occupational Medicine Center at Urmia University of Medical Sciences and the staff of referral lab of Urmia University of Medical Sciences for their help.

Author contributions

All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.