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.
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Erik
E
Fransen
Vedat
V
Topsakal
Jan-Jaap
JJ
Hendrickx
Lut
L
Van Laer
Jeroen R
JR
Huyghe
Els
E
Van Eyken
Nele
N
Lemkens
Samuli
S
Hannula
Elina
E
Mäki-Torkko
Mona
M
Jensen
Kelly
K
Demeester
Anke
A
Tropitzsch
Amanda
A
Bonaconsa
Manuela
M
Mazzoli
Angeles
A
Espeso
Katia
K
Verbruggen
Joke
J
Huyghe
Patrick L M
PL
Huygen
Sylvia
S
Kunst
Minna
M
Manninen
Amalia
A
Diaz-Lacava
Michael
M
Steffens
Thomas F
TF
Wienker
Ilmari
I
Pyykkö
Cor W R J
CW
Cremers
Hannie
H
Kremer
Ingeborg
I
Dhooge
Dafydd
D
Stephens
Eva
E
Orzan
Markus
M
Pfister
Michael
M
Bille
Agnete
A
Parving
Martti
M
Sorri
Paul
P
Van de Heyning
Guy
G
Van Camp
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*