Hearing/vestibular problems, racial differences, and associations with physical function impairment among breast...

Breast cancer survivors face many health challenges, including tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo which will grow with an aging population and improved treatment outcomes. However, the prevalence of hearing/vestibular problems, racial differences, and relationships to physical function are poorly characterized in breast cancer survivors.

Between July and September 2023, we surveyed the Chicago Multiethnic Epidemiologic Breast Cancer Cohort. Tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo were self-reported and verified through electronic health records. Physical function impairment was measured using the SF-36 10-item instrument. We fit logistic regression models for hearing/vestibular problems and linear regression models for physical function score, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Of 1466 breast cancer survivors (mean [SD] age, 63.5 [11.8] years), 16.6%, 17.3%, and 8.6% reported experiencing tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo, respectively. Black survivors had lower odds of hearing loss (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31 to 0.86) but greater odds of vertigo (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.34 to 3.89) than White survivors. Survivors with hearing/vestibular problems had higher average impairment scores (worse physical function) than those without. In the adjusted regression models, survivors who reported experiencing tinnitus (β = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.10 to 1.43), hearing loss (β = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.06 to 1.40), or vertigo (β = 1.70; 95% CI = 0.81 to 2.58) had a higher level of physical function impairment.

This study demonstrates racial differences in hearing/vestibular problems and associations between these problems and physical function impairment. Survivorship programs should consider routine screening and interventions to improve hearing health and physical function among breast cancer survivors.