title: Self-Reported Hearing in the Last 2 Years of Life in Older Adults.
abstract: To assess the prevalence and correlates of self-reported hearing loss during the last 2 years of life.
  
  
  
  Observational cohort study.
  
  
  
  The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal nationally representative cohort of adults aged 50 and older (2000-13).
  
  
  
  Older adults (N = 5,895, mean age at death 78, 53% female, 20% nonwhite).
  
  
  
  The HRS interview closest to death was used (mean 12.2 months before death). Participants rated their hearing (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor) and indicated whether they used hearing aids. The prevalence and correlates of fair and poor ratings are described, adjusted for age and sex.
  
  
  
  Thirty-two percent (95% confidence interval (CI) = 31-34%) of all participants and 60% (95% CI = 57-64%) of the 7% of participants who used hearing aids rated their hearing as fair or poor. The prevalence of fair or poor hearing was highest in participants interviewed closest to death (29% 19-24 months before death, 36% 1-6 months before death, P for trend = .01). Correlates of fair or poor hearing during the last 2 years of life included age at death (50-59, 22%; 60-69, 21%; 70-79, 26%; 80-89, 38%; ≥90, 50%), sex (men 35%, women 30%), race and ethnicity (Hispanic 42%, white 33%), wealth (lowest quartile 38%, highest quartile 27%), history of heart disease (yes 38%, no 27%), activity of daily living dependence (yes 42%, no 26%), difficulty taking medications (yes 46%, no 29%), and probable dementia (yes 44%, no 24%).
  
  
  
  Self-reported hearing loss increases during the last 2 years of life and is associated with physical and social vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.|Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.|Jewish Home San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Christine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Yinghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.|Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California.|Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: W John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Boscardin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wallhagen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: end of life; hearing loss; population-based studies