Moderate alcohol consumption and hearing loss: a protective effect.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if moderate alcohol consumption is associated inversely with hearing loss in a large population based study of older adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population based cohort study. Data are from the 1993-1995 examinations for the population based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (EHLS) (n = 3571) and the Beaver Dam Eye Study (BDES) (n = 3722).


METHODS
Midwestern community of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.


METHODS
Residents of Beaver Dam aged 43 to 84 in 1987-1988 were eligible for the BDES (examinations in 1988-1990 and 1993-1995). During 1993-1995, this same cohort was eligible to participate in the baseline examination for the EHLS.


METHODS
Hearing thresholds were measured by pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry (250-8000 Hz.). History of alcohol consumption in the past year, heavy drinking (ever), medical history, occupation, noise exposure, and other lifestyle factors were ascertained by a questionnaire that was administered as an interview.


RESULTS
In multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounders, moderate alcohol consumption (>140 grams/week) was inversely associated with hearing loss (PTA(.5,1,2,4 > 25 dB HL); odds ratio [OR] = .71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .52, .97; where PTA is pure tone average). A similar association was found for moderate hearing loss (PTA(.5,1,2,4 > 40 dB HL); OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.32, 0.74). Alcohol consumption was associated inversely with the odds of having a low frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.61) or a high frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.60). These findings did not vary significantly by age or gender. There was an increase in the odds of having a high frequency hearing loss (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.75), in those with a history of heavy drinking (> or =4 drinks/day). Including cardiovascular disease or its related factors did not significantly attenuate the protective effect.


CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence of a modest protective association of alcohol consumption and hearing loss in these cross-sectional data. This finding is in agreement with a small body of evidence suggesting that hearing loss is not an inevitable component of the aging process.
Popelka
M M
MM
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705-2397, USA.
Cruickshanks
K J
KJ
Wiley
T L
TL
Tweed
T S
TS
Klein
B E
BE
Klein
R
R
Nondahl
D M
DM
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001844:Bone Conduction; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology