Global trends and burden of age-related hearing loss: 32-year study

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a major cause of disability and diminished quality of life in older adults. This study uses data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study to assess global ARHL.

We evaluated ARHL prevalence, DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years), ASPR (Age-Standardized Prevalence Rate), and ASDR (Age-Standardized DALYs Rate). Trend analysis was conducted using Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC), with projections to 2050.

From 1990 and 2021, global ARHL prevalence cases and DALYs increased by 109 %, reaching 1.55 billion and 44.45 million, respectively. The ASPR increased from 17,106.88 to 18,070.26, while the crude prevalence rate significantly from 13,890.66 to 19,587.14. Both ASPR and ASDR demonstrated significant age-related increases, particularly for moderate and moderately severe ARHL, with EAPC values of 1.39 and 1.49 for ASDR, respectively. Among individuals aged over 85 years, the ASPR of ARHL is expected to reach 80 %. Prevalence cases peaked in the 55-69 age group, with the highest number of cases (179.43 million) observed in the 55-59 subgroup. High-middle SDI regions and East Asia exhibited the most rapid growth. By 2050, ARHL cases are projected to reach 2.31 billion, with ASPR and ASDR expected to continue rising.

ARHL has increased globally over the past three decades, largely due to population aging. The burden is most severe in middle SDI regions, East Asia, and the 55-69 age group, primarily due to their substantial population bases. Addressing this escalating challenge requires enhanced public awareness, early screening initiatives, and targeted interventions.