Associations between medical conditions and auditory dysfunction in US Veterans

Abstract

Objective

To examine associations between non-otologic medical conditions and auditory dysfunction.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Noise Outcomes in Service members Epidemiology (NOISE) study. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between medical conditions (0, 1, and 2 or more conditions) and auditory dysfunction (hearing loss pure tone average ≥20 dB HL and tinnitus), adjusting for key confounders including noise exposure. Secondarily, the association between specific medical conditions and auditory dysfunction was examined. All variables were self-reported.

Study sample

United States military Veterans (n = 580) with mean age 34.1 years (standard deviation = 9.2), who were within approximately 2.5 years of separation from service.

Results

Compared to Veterans reporting no medical conditions, Veterans reporting two or more had increased odds on low-frequency hearing loss and on tinnitus but not on high or extended-high frequency hearing loss. Furthermore, specific conditions sleep disorder and arthritis were associated with auditory dysfunction.

Conclusions

Non-otologic medical conditions were associated with low-frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in this sample of young Veterans. This suggests medical conditions may play a role in Veterans’ hearing health. Whether management of medical conditions earlier in life reduces the risk of hearing loss and tinnitus requires further study.

Keywords:

• Hearing loss
• tinnitus
• veterans
• comorbidity
• noise

Acknowledgements

This manuscript is dedicated to the memory of Donald F. Austin, MD, MPH, whose expertise in public health and the assessment of causation in epidemiologic research greatly contributed to this research endeavor.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award (Grant #PR121146), a Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program Award (Grant #JW160036) and a US Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Research Career Scientist Award (Grant #C9247S). This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (Center Award #C9230C) at the VA Portland Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. The US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, through the Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program under Award No. W81XWH-17-1-0020. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government.