Occupational noise, smoking, and a high body mass index are risk factors for age-related hearing impairment and moderate alcohol consumption is protective: a European population-based multicenter study.
A multicenter study was set up to elucidate the environmental and medical risk factors contributing to age-related hearing impairment (ARHI). Nine subsamples, collected by nine audiological centers across Europe, added up to a total of 4,083 subjects between 53 and 67 years. Audiometric data (pure-tone average [PTA]) were collected and the participants filled out a questionnaire on environmental risk factors and medical history. People with a history of disease that could affect hearing were excluded. PTAs were adjusted for age and sex and tested for association with exposure to risk factors. Noise exposure was associated with a significant loss of hearing at high sound frequencies (>1 kHz). Smoking significantly increased high-frequency hearing loss, and the effect was dose-dependent. The effect of smoking remained significant when accounting for cardiovascular disease events. Taller people had better hearing on average with a more pronounced effect at low sound frequencies (<2 kHz). A high body mass index (BMI) correlated with hearing loss across the frequency range tested. Moderate alcohol consumption was inversely correlated with hearing loss. Significant associations were found in the high as well as in the low frequencies. The results suggest that a healthy lifestyle can protect against age-related hearing impairment.
Fransen
Erik
E
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Topsakal
Vedat
V
Hendrickx
Jan-Jaap
JJ
Van Laer
Lut
L
Huyghe
Jeroen R
JR
Van Eyken
Els
E
Lemkens
Nele
N
Hannula
Samuli
S
Mäki-Torkko
Elina
E
Jensen
Mona
M
Demeester
Kelly
K
Tropitzsch
Anke
A
Bonaconsa
Amanda
A
Mazzoli
Manuela
M
Espeso
Angeles
A
Verbruggen
Katia
K
Huyghe
Joke
J
Huygen
Patrick L M
PL
Kunst
Sylvia
S
Manninen
Minna
M
Diaz-Lacava
Amalia
A
Steffens
Michael
M
Wienker
Thomas F
TF
Pyykkö
Ilmari
I
Cremers
Cor W R J
CW
Kremer
Hannie
H
Dhooge
Ingeborg
I
Stephens
Dafydd
D
Orzan
Eva
E
Pfister
Markus
M
Bille
Michael
M
Parving
Agnete
A
Sorri
Martti
M
Van de Heyning
Paul
P
Van Camp
Guy
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009765:Obesity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*