The prevalence of hearing loss in an elderly population in Rio de Janeiro: a cross-sectional study.
Hearing loss in the elderly is one of the most frequent chronic diseases.


OBJECTIVE
to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss in a representative sample of elderly people (aged 65 or over) in the city of Rio de Janeiro.


METHODS
a prospective, cross-sectional population-based study with 238 elderly people aged 65 years or more (198 women and 40 men).


RESULTS
the prevalence of hearing loss was 39.4% (better ear) and 61.6% (worse ear) in the female group, 60% (better ear) and 77.5% (worse ear) in the male group, and 42.9% and 64.3% in the study population. Mild hearing loss was the most prevalent level of hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
the prevalence of hearing loss in the study population was significant and in accordance with others relevant international epidemiological studies. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand age-related hearing loss.
Mattos
Leila Couto
LC
Rio de Janeiro State University - UERJ.
Veras
Renato Peixoto
RP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies