Hearing Loss and Associated Risk Factors Among Older Adults: The Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES-RS)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dobie RA ; Eiriksdottir G ; Gudnason V ; Hoffman HJ ; Launer LJ ; Li C-M ; Petersen H ; Sverrisdottir JE ; Themann, Christa L.
• Description:
  Introduction: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a common sensorineural disorder in older adults, who typically experience gradual rather than sudden onset of disabling hearing impairment (HI). Objective: To estimate prevalence and identify risk factors associated with HI in a well-characterized cohort of older adults. Methods: The Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES-RS) 2002-2006, interviewed and examined a population-based cohort of 5,764 adults aged 66-96 years. We performed analysis on 5,171 subjects who completed air-conduction, pure-tone audiometric examinations after removal of clinically significant cerumen. Hearing in the better ear was analyzed using the pure-tone average (PTA: 0.5-1-2-4 kHz) threshold classification recommended by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 Hearing Loss Expert Group: "mild" (20-34 dB hearing level [HL]), "moderate" (35-49 dB HL), "moderately severe" (50-64 dB HL), "severe" (65-79 dB HL), "profound" (80-94 dB HL), and "deaf" (>=95 dB HL). Disabling HI has been defined as BE, PTA >=35 dB HL. Multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI)s were calculated using logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of (only) mild HI was 43.2% (males, 44.0%; females, 42.5%), while disabling HI was 32.5% (males, 38.9%; females, 27.8%). Males had higher prevalence of disabling HI compared to females (PR:1.43; 95% CI:1.32-1.54). Prevalence of disabling HI increased with age (66-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and 85+ years): males, 13.0%, 24.0%, 39.1%, 55.4%, and 73.7%; females, 5.7%, 13.6%, 24.7%, 45.9%, and 70.9%, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and education, the risk factors associated with disabling HI were: "fair" (PR:1.15; 95% CI:1.03-1.28) and "poor" general health status (PR:1.22; 95% CI:1.03-1.45); underweight (PR:1.37; 95% CI: 1.07-1.75); hypertension (PR:1.16; 95% CI:1.02-1.33); mild (PR:1.16; 95% CI:1.04-1.30) and moderate-to-severe depression (PR:1.39; 95% CI:1.08-1.79); mild (PR:1.44; 95% CI:1.29-1.61) and greater cognitive impairment (PR:1.27; 95% CI:1.10- 1.47); vertigo (PR:1.10; 95% CI:1.01-1.19); frequent falls (PR:1.31;95% CI:1.14-1.51); tinnitus (PR:1.37; 95% CI:1.25-1.50); self-reported hearing loss (PR:4.69; 95% CI:4.09-5.37); wearing hearing aids (PR:3.67; 95% CI:3.42-3.93); history of repeated ear infections (PR:1.35; 95% CI:1.18-1.55); and history of work-related noise exposure (PR:1.43; 95% CI:1.32-1.54). Lifetime moderate or higher physical activity was protective, i.e., associated with decreased prevalence (PR:0.91; 95% CI:0.83-0.99). Conclusion: In AGES-RS, disabling HI prevalence increased markedly with age. ARHL is a permanent condition with limited rehabilitation success. Hence, reliable information for ways to delay onset of ARHL is a priority. Findings from epidemiological studies can suggest preventive strategies, e.g., moderate or higher physical activity. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Aging Cohort Studies Epidemiology Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

  More +
• Keywords:
  Age Factors Cohort Studies Ear Disorders Hearing Impairment Hearing Loss Hearing Threshold Physical Exercise Risk Factors
• ISSN:
  0742-3152
• Publisher:
  Association for Research in Otolaryngology
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Maryland ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  41
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060898
• Citation:
  Abstr Midwinter Res Meet Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2018 Feb; 41:704-705
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Abstracts of the 41st Midwinter Research Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, Febuary 9-14, 2018, San Diego, California
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:94e476b2672b11d8b605eaeb16e5e884524891a86cf82137d662af1a3dfa58697955269ead421a7793854308917f610c868accb3fe2e2fd4a41ab2d7dd1a5174
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224669/cdc_224669_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 523.41 KB ]