The association between serum estradiol level and hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate whether hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women is associated with serum estradiol level or bone mineral density.


METHODS
Serum estradiol level, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and hearing sensitivity were measured in 1830 postmenopausal women. Serum estradiol level was measured by radioimmunoassay, and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck. Hearing sensitivity was evaluated by pure tone audiometry. Age, serum estradiol level, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and the proportion of women on hormone replacement therapy were analyzed in women with and without hearing loss.


RESULTS
On univariate analysis, significant differences were found in mean age, serum estradiol level, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and the proportion of women on hormone replacement therapy between the two groups (mean +/- standard deviation, 59.4 +/- 5.6 versus 56.9 +/- 4.7 years, P <.001; 8.4 +/- 3.8 versus. 9.9 +/- 8.7 pg/mL, P <.001; 0.85 +/- 0.14 versus 0.88 +/- 0.15 g/cm(2), P <.01; 0.65 +/- 0.10 versus 0.68 +/- 0.10 g/cm(2), P <.005; 0.006% versus 0.03%, P <.05, respectively). On multiple logistic regression analysis, significant association was found between age and hearing loss and between serum estradiol level and hearing loss (P <.001, P =.02, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a lower level of serum estradiol possibly impedes hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women.
Kim
Sung Hoon
SH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Kang
Byung Moon
BM
Chae
Hee Dong
HD
Kim
Chung Hoon
CH
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D004958:Estradiol