[The frequency of hearing impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hardness of hearing in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and to compare the diabetes characteristics between diabetic patients with and without hardness of hearing.


METHODS
Computerized general practitioners office in Nijverdal, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
In all patients aged 55 years and over, registered at the general practitioners (n = 1184), diabetes mellitus type 2 and hardness of hearing were determined. Hardness of hearing was defined as use of a hearing aid or an audiometrically determined hearing loss of at least 40db.


RESULTS
A hearing aid was three to four times more prevalent in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (n = 86) than in subjects without diabetes of the same age (p < 0.001). Of the diabetic patients 48% had impaired hearing. Patients with hardness of hearing had a longer duration of diabetes than diabetic patients with a normal hearing (10.5 years (SD: 6.9) versus 6.9 years (6.8); p = 0.06, adjusted for age). They suffered less hypertension and had a lower level of glycated haemoglobin.


CONCLUSIONS
Hardness of hearing is frequent in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. It may be due to diabetic neuropathy.
Boomsma
L J
LJ
Julius Centrum voor Patiëntgebonden Onderzoek, Universiteit Utrecht.
Stolk
R P
RP
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
Vaak slechthorendheid bij patiënten met diabetes mellitus type 2.