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The association between cardiovascular disease and cochlear function in older adults
Peter Torre1, Karen J Cruickshanks, Barbara E K Klein
1University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, USA. ptorre@mail.sdsu.edu
Summary
Older women with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) showed a doubled risk of cochlear impairment. This cardiovascular disease link to hearing function was specific to women in this study.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a prevalent health issue in older adults.
- Hearing loss is also common in aging populations, and its association with CVD is an area of growing research interest.
- Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) are a sensitive measure of outer hair cell function in the cochlea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cochlear function in older adults.
- To determine if specific CVD conditions or hypertension are associated with impaired cochlear function as measured by DPOAEs.
- To explore potential sex differences in the association between CVD and cochlear function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (EHLS), a population-based study.
- Assessed self-reported CVD history including angina, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke.
- Measured cochlear function using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and categorized participants based on cochlear impairment.
- Included 1,501 participants with complete CVD and DPOAE data.
Main Results:
- Women with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) were twice as likely to have cochlear impairment compared to women without MI history (age-adjusted OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.15-3.46).
- This association between MI and cochlear impairment was not statistically significant in men (age-adjusted OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.61-1.58).
- No other CVD variables or hypertension were significantly associated with cochlear impairment in either sex.
Conclusions:
- A potential sex-specific association exists between cardiovascular disease, specifically myocardial infarction, and cochlear function in older adults.
- The findings suggest that MI may be a risk factor for cochlear impairment in women.
- Further research is warranted to confirm this sex-specific link and elucidate underlying mechanisms.