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Sleep-Associated Traits and Hearing Difficulties in Noise: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Chunyan Liu1,2, Xiaonan Wu1, Jin Li1
1Department of Audiology & Vestibular Medicine, Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
This study used Mendelian randomization to find that better morning wakefulness may protect against hearing difficulties in noise, while shorter sleep duration increases risk. A bidirectional causal link between sleep traits and hearing in noise was identified.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Sleep Science
- Auditory Health Research
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Hearing difficulties in noise (HDinN) represent a significant auditory challenge.
- Sleep-associated traits are increasingly recognized for their impact on overall health.
- The causal relationship between sleep patterns and HDinN requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal links between various sleep-associated traits and hearing difficulties in noise (HDinN).
- To perform a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis across diverse global populations.
- To identify sleep traits that may serve as protective factors or risk factors for HDinN.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from European, South Asian, East Asian, African, and Greater Middle Eastern populations.
- Employed MR-Egger regression, inverse variance weighted, and weighted median methods for robust causal inference.
- Examined bidirectional relationships between HDinN and sleep traits including chronotype, insomnia, sleep duration, daytime dozing, and ease of getting up.
Main Results:
- In European populations, ease of getting up was protective against HDinN (OR=0.932), while shorter sleep duration was a risk factor (OR=1.164).
- A potential causal link was observed between daytime dozing and HDinN (OR=1.089).
- Reverse MR analysis showed HDinN causally associated with chronotype (OR=1.413) and ease of getting up (OR=0.668) in Europeans, with consistent findings in other populations. Insomnia showed potential associations with HDinN in non-European groups.
Conclusions:
- A bidirectional causal relationship exists between sleep-associated traits and hearing difficulties in noise.
- Specific sleep traits, such as ease of getting up and sleep duration, show significant causal effects on HDinN.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms connecting sleep and auditory function.
