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Can hearing handicap be linked to frailty? A cross-sectional study
Ruana Danieli da Silva Campos1, Henrique Pott2, Marisa Silvana Zazzetta3
1Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP - Campinas (SP), Brasil.
Codas
|February 12, 2025
Summary
Older adults with hearing handicap face participation restrictions. Emotional impairment from hearing loss increases vulnerability to frailty, highlighting the need for targeted support.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hearing handicap is a significant issue in older adults.
- Frailty, encompassing physical, cognitive, and social dimensions, affects the aging population.
- Understanding the interplay between hearing loss and frailty is crucial for geriatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between different types of frailty (physical, cognitive, social) and hearing handicap in older adults.
- To explore how hearing difficulties impact participation restrictions in the elderly.
- To identify predictors of frailty in individuals with hearing impairment.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 229 older adults assessed physical, cognitive, and social frailty.
- Fried's Frailty Phenotype, Makizako index, and the HHIE-S questionnaire were utilized.
- Logistic regression analyzed participation restrictions related to hearing difficulties and frailty types.
Main Results:
- Hearing handicap was associated with physical, cognitive, and social frailty.
- Emotional aspects of hearing handicap predicted physical frailty, alongside age, education, and comorbidities.
- Age and comorbidities predicted cognitive frailty, while cognitive changes predicted social frailty.
Conclusions:
- Hearing loss-related participation restrictions pose challenges for older adults.
- Emotional impairment due to hearing loss exacerbates frailty risk.
- Prioritizing support for this vulnerable population is essential for improving quality of life.
