Risk factors for presbycusis in a socio-economic middle-class sample.
Presbycusis, or the aging ear, involves mainly the inner ear and the cochlear nerve, causing sensorineural hearing loss. Risk factors include systemic diseases and poor habits that cause inner ear damage and lead to presbycusis. Correct identification of these risk factors is relevant for prevention.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and to identify the risk factors of presbycusis in a sample aged over 40 years.


METHODS
A retrospective case series.


METHODS
medical records of 625 patients were evaluated. Presbycusis was identified using pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and impedance testing of all patients.


RESULTS
The prevalence of presbycusis was 36.1%; the mean age was 50.5 years ranging from 40 to 86 years; 85.5% were male and 14.5% werf female. Age, the male gender, diabetes mellitus, and hereditary hearing loss were identified as risk factors. Cardiovascular diseases, smoking and consumption of alcohol were not confirmed as risk factors, although these have often been mentioned as risk factors for presbycusis.


CONCLUSIONS
Notwithstanding the idea that presbycusis has multiple risk factors, this study identified few risk factors for this disease.
Sousa
Cláudia Simônica de
CS
Medical School, FCM of the Sta Casa de S Paulo, Brazil.
Castro Júnior
Ney de
Nd
Larsson
Erkki Juhani
EJ
Ching
Ting Hui
TH
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors