Alterations in hearing function of patients with glucose disorders

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Audiology
• Metabolic Disorders and Sensory Function

Background:

• Glucose disorders, including diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose, are increasingly prevalent globally.
• Hearing impairment is a common sensory deficit with significant impact on quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of hearing impairment in individuals with various glucose metabolism disorders.
• To identify risk factors associated with hearing deficits in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 499 individuals was studied, including patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and healthy controls.
• Hearing function was assessed using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).
• Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent predictors of hearing impairment.

Main Results:

• Patients with impaired glucose metabolism (T2DM or IFG) exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal PTA and DPOAEs compared to controls.
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients showed no significant difference in hearing impairment compared to controls in the left ear, but a lower prevalence in the right ear.
• Independent risk factors for abnormal hearing function included older age, male gender, exposure to noisy environments, and the presence of impaired glucose metabolism.

Conclusions:

• Hearing impairment is more prevalent in patients with impaired glucose metabolism.
• Age, male gender, and noise exposure are significant independent factors affecting hearing ability.
• Clinicians should proactively assess hearing function in patients with glucose disorders.