Hypertension associated with hearing health problems among Canadian adults aged 19 to 79 years

Hypertension is a common condition experienced by close to one-quarter of the adult population in Canada. There is evidence that this condition or the medications used to treat it may lead to hearing health problems (defined in this study as having hearing loss, tinnitus or both conditions).

Data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey from 2012 to 2015 were used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and hearing health problems for individuals aged 19 to 79 years (n=6,198). Data from cycles 3 (n=3,072) and 4 (n=3,126) were combined. The relationship of hypertension to hearing health problems was assessed with multivariate logistic regression.

An estimated 40% of the adult population were free of hearing health problems, while the remaining 60% had either hearing loss (23%), tinnitus (22%) or both conditions (14%); 22% of the adult population had hypertension. Hearing health problems were significantly more prevalent among adults with hypertension (79%) than among those without hypertension (54%). Hypertension was associated with greater odds of hearing health problems in both males (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.7) and females (AOR=1.6), even after accounting for age, sociodemographic, health-related and noise exposure variables.

This study adds to the body of evidence that identifies hypertension as a potentially modifiable risk factor for hearing loss and tinnitus. Males and females with hypertension had a higher risk of experiencing hearing health problems, demonstrating the importance of screening those with hypertension for hearing health.