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Hearing Loss and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profiles: Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
Rachael R Baiduc1, Brittany Bogle2, Franklyn Gonzalez Ii3
1Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease risk factors are linked to hearing loss in Hispanic/Latino adults. Specific risks like elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking show associations, particularly in older females.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Individual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) are known to be associated with hearing loss (HL).
- The impact of aggregate CVD risk burden on hearing has not been well-studied, especially in Hispanic/Latino populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the cumulative burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors and hearing loss.
- To characterize these associations specifically within the Hispanic/Latino community.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 12,766 Hispanic/Latino participants aged 18-74.
- Hearing loss defined as pure-tone average > 25 dB HL across key frequencies.
- CVD risk burden assessed using optimal and major risk factor definitions, analyzed via multivariable logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Elevated blood pressure was linked to hearing loss in younger females (<45 years).
- Diabetes and smoking were associated with hearing loss in older females (≥45 years).
- Older females (≥45 years) with multiple risk factors showed higher odds of hearing loss compared to those with optimal risk.
Conclusions:
- Hearing loss is associated with specific cardiovascular risk factors, varying by age and sex in the Hispanic/Latino population.
- Findings highlight elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking as key contributors to hearing loss in different demographic subgroups.
- Further research is recommended to explore the link between these factors and the incidence of hearing loss.
Background:
Individual cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) have been associated with hearing loss (HL). The relationship to aggregate risk is poorly understood and has not been explored in the Hispanic/Latino population.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to characterize the association between aggregate CVD RF burden and hearing among Hispanics/Latinos.
Research Design:
Cross-sectional examination.
Study Sample:
Participants (18-74 years; n = 12,766) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.
Data Collection And Analysis:
Thresholds (0.5-8 kHz) were obtained, and HL was defined dichotomously as pure-tone average (PTA0.5,1, 2,4) > 25 dB HL. Optimal CVD risk burden was defined as follows: systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 120 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 80 mm Hg; total cholesterol < 180 mg/dL; nonsmoking; and no diabetes. Major CVD RFs were diabetes, currently smoking, SBP >160 or DBP > 100 mm Hg (or antihypertensives), and total cholesterol > 240 mg/dL (or statins). Thresholds were estimated by age (18-44 and ≥45 years) and sex using linear regression. The association between CVD risk burden and HL was assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Models were adjusted for age, sex, Hispanic/Latino background, center, education, income, alcohol use, body mass index, and noise exposure.
Results:
In the target population, 53.03% were female and 18.81% and 8.52% had all RFs optimal and ≥2 major RFs, respectively. Elevated BP (SBP 120-139 mm Hg or DBP 80-89 mm Hg) was associated with HL in females < 45 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-4.16). Diabetes (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.01-1.84) and tobacco smoking (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.03-2.01) were associated with HL in females ≥ 45 years. The odds of HL were higher for females ≥ 45 years with ≥2 RFs versus those with all RFs optimal (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.12-3.53). Elevated BP (SBP 140-159 mm Hg or DBP 90-99 mm Hg), but not aggregate risk burden, was associated with HL in males ≥ 45 years (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.02-2.19). No relationships with major CVD RFs were significant in males < 45 years.
Conclusions:
HL is associated with elevated BP in females < 45 years, with diabetes and hypertension in males ≥ 45 years, and with diabetes, smoking, and having ≥2 major CVD RFs in females ≥ 45 years. Future studies are needed to examine if these factors are associated with incident HL.
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