Association between triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio and hearing impairment in a Korean population

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical association between triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and hearing impairment in a Korean population.

Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study (n = 18,004). Participants were divided into 4 quartiles based on their TG/HDL-C ratio: first quartile (1Q), second quartile (2Q), third quartile (3Q), and fourth quartile (4Q). The threshold values at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz were averaged to obtain the low- or mid-frequency pure-tone average (Low/Mid-Freq), and the values at 3, 4, and 6 kHz were averaged to obtain the high-frequency pure-tone average (High-Freq). The average hearing threshold (AHT) was calculated as the pure-tone average of the thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz. Hearing loss (HL) was defined as an AHT of >40 dB.

Results: The Low/Mid-Freq, High-Freq, and AHT values were the highest among participants in 4Q than among those in the other quartiles. Compared with those in 1Q, 2Q, or 3Q, participants in 4Q exhibited a 1.32, 1.27, and 1.16-fold higher odds for HL, respectively. Partial correlation coefficients for TG/HDL-C ratio were 0.065 for Low/Mid-Freq, 0.041 for High-Freq, and 0.060 for AHT (P < 0.001 for all). Linear regression analyses showed that β ± SE for TG/HDL-C ratio was 0.293 ± 0.038 on multivariate analysis. In addition, all subgroup analyses except diabetes participants showed statistically significant association between TG/HDL-C ratio and HL.

Conclusion: High TG/HDL-C ratio was associated with hearing impairment in a Korean population.

KEYWORDS:

• Triglyceride
• high-density lipoprotein
• hearing loss
• insulin resistance

Declaration of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Medical Research Center Program (2015R1A5A2009124) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.