Smoking and drinking habits as risk factors for hearing loss in the elderly: epidemiological study of subjects undergoing routine health checks in Aichi, Japan.
In order to determine the risk factors for hearing loss in the elderly, a total of 496 subjects with bilateral hearing loss and 2807 age-matched persons without hearing disturbance were recruited from the participants in an automated multiphasic health screening examination, and their lifestyle and medical data were analysed. Current smokers showed a significantly increased risk of hearing loss compared with non-smokers (odds ratio after adjustment for sex, age, and potential confounders=2.10 (1.53-2.89)), while heavy drinkers did not show an increased risk compared to non-drinkers. Our findings might provide some clues for the primary prevention of age-related hearing loss.
Itoh
A
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. aki0213@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Nakashima
T
T
Arao
H
H
Wakai
K
K
Tamakoshi
A
A
Kawamura
T
T
Ohno
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009098:Multiphasic Screening; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology