title: Visceral adipose tissue is significantly associated with hearing thresholds in adult women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for age-related hearing impairment (ARHI). There are metabolic differences between abdominal adipose tissue present in subcutaneous and visceral areas. In this study, we investigated the association between abdominal fat composition, measured by computerized tomography (CT), and hearing thresholds.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 662 adults aged 40-82 years with normal or symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss who underwent fat measurement by CT. Linear regression models were used to address the association between risk factors, including abdominal fat composition, and average hearing levels at low and high frequencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age, systemic disease and other variables, a positive association between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area and average hearing threshold was observed in women. In men, there was no significant association between abdominal fat composition and hearing threshold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show an association between VAT and hearing impairment in women. A reduction in visceral adiposity may help to prevent hearing loss in women.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
authors: Tae Su
authors: TS
authors: Kim
authors: Sung Won
authors: SW
authors: Park
authors: Do Yeon
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Eon Bin
authors: EB
authors: Kim
authors: Jong Woo
authors: JW
authors: Chung
authors: Hong-Seob
authors: HS
authors: So
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed