title: Hearing impairment among adults: the impact of cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of cardiovascular diseases on hearing impairment (HI) among adults. Furthermore, to seek other potential risk factors for HI, such as smoking, obesity, and socioeconomic class.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, unscreened, population-based, epidemiological study among adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects (n = 850), aged 54-66 years, were randomly sampled from the population register. A questionnaire survey, an otological examination, and pure-tone audiometry were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiovascular diseases did not increase the risk for HI in a propensity-score adjusted logistic regression model: OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.96 for HI defined by better ear hearing level (BEHL), and OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.28 for HI defined by worse ear hearing level (WEHL), in the 0.5-4 kHz frequency range. Heavy smoking is a risk factor for HI among men (BEHL: OR 1.96, WEHL: OR 1.88) and women (WEHL: OR 2.4). Among men, obesity (BEHL, OR 1.85) and lower socioeconomic class (BEHL: OR 2.79, WEHL: OR 2.28) are also risk factors for HI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant association between cardiovascular disease and HI was found.
authors.affiliation: * Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Oulu , Finland.
authors.forename: Venla
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lohi
authors.forename: Samuli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hannula
authors.forename: Pasi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ohtonen
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorri
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mäki-Torkko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D057216:Propensity Score; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Hearing impairment; adult; body mass index; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; smoking; socioeconomic class