Analysis of Predisposing Factors for Hearing Loss in Adults

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1175 - 1182
• Main Authors: Lee, Joong Seob, Choi, Hyo Geun, Jang, Jeong Hun, Sim, Songyong, Hong, Sung Kwang, Lee, Hyo-Jeong, Park, Bumjung, Kim, Hyung-Jong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01-08-2015; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Causality; Comorbidity; Diabetes Mellitus; Disease Susceptibility; Educational Status; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Female; Hearing Loss - diagnosis; Hearing Loss - epidemiology; Hearing Tests - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Income - statistics & numerical data; Male; Noise; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Original; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Smoking - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; 의학일반; Republic of Korea; Sensorineural; Noise; Epidemiology; Hearing Loss
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.8.1175

We aimed to estimate the effects of various risk factors on hearing level in Korean adults, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined data from 13,369 participants collected between 2009 and 2011. Average hearing thresholds at low (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) and high frequencies (3, 4, and 6 kHz), were investigated in accordance with various known risk factors via multiple regression analysis featuring complex sampling. We additionally evaluated data from 4,810 participants who completed a questionnaire concerned with different types of noise exposure. Low body mass index, absence of hyperlipidemia, history of diabetes mellitus, low incomes, low educational status, and smoking were associated with elevated low frequency hearing thresholds. In addition, male sex, low body mass index, absence of hyperlipidemia, low income, low educational status, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption were associated with elevated high frequency hearing thresholds. Participants with a history of earphone use in noisy circumstances demonstrated hearing thresholds which were 1.024 dB (95% CI: 0.176 to 1.871; P = 0.018) higher, at low-frequencies, compared to participants without a history of earphone use. Our study suggests that low BMI, absence of hyperlipidemia, low household income, and low educational status are related with hearing loss in Korean adults. Male sex, smoking, and heavy alcohol use are related with high frequency hearing loss. A history of earphone use in noisy circumstances is also related with hearing loss.