The role of chronic inflammation duration in age-related hearing loss: a cross-sectional study

To investigate the associations of the presence, duration, and co-occurrence of chronic inflammatory diseases with age-related hearing loss.

This cross-sectional investigation included 583 subjects aged over 60 years. The participants were divided into two categories: healthy cohort (Group H, n = 65) and inflammation cohort (Group I, n = 518). Group I was defined by the presence of at least one chronic inflammatory condition. Participants' smoking history was gathered and evaluated as a possible confounding factor. Hearing assessments were conducted using extended high-frequency audiometry, measuring thresholds from 125-18000 Hz. To analyze the association between hearing thresholds and inflammation duration, regression analysis was employed, with age as a controlled variable.

Participants in Group I demonstrated significantly elevated hearing thresholds at extended high frequencies compared to those in Group H (p < 0.05). The duration of chronic inflammatory diseases was significantly associated with elevated hearing thresholds at high frequencies (4000, 8000, 10000, and 12500 Hz) (p < 0.05) regardless of age. The presence of co-occurring inflammatory conditions did not show a significant impact on hearing thresholds.

The impact of aging on hearing thresholds, particularly at higher frequencies, appears to be more pronounced in individuals with longer durations of chronic inflammatory conditions.