Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and hearing sensitivity.
Paul D Loprinzi1, Bradley J Cardinal, Ben Gilham
1Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY, USA. ploprinzi@bellarmine.edu.
American Journal of Audiology
|January 25, 2012
Summary
Higher cardiorespiratory fitness may protect hearing. Women with better cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by a nonexercise prediction equation, showed better hearing sensitivity, suggesting an auditory-protective effect.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness is crucial for overall health.
- Previous studies suggest a link between fitness and hearing, but larger samples are needed.
- Understanding this relationship can inform public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and hearing sensitivity in a U.S. adult population.
- To build upon previous smaller-scale research with a nationally representative sample.
- To explore potential auditory-protective effects of cardiorespiratory fitness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
- Included 1,082 U.S. adults aged 20-49 years.
- Assessed cardiorespiratory fitness via maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) using nonexercise prediction and heart-rate extrapolation; measured hearing sensitivity using pure-tone averages (PTA).
Main Results:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness, estimated by nonexercise prediction, was significantly associated with hearing sensitivity in women for both low and high pure-tone frequency averages (p < .01).
- Women with higher predicted cardiorespiratory fitness were 6% more likely to have good hearing.
- No significant association was found when using heart-rate extrapolation to estimate VO2max.
Conclusions:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness is linked to hearing sensitivity, particularly in women, when VO2max is estimated using a nonexercise prediction equation.
- Findings suggest a potential auditory-protective role for cardiorespiratory fitness.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these associations and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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