[Prevalence of self-reported hearing loss and its associated risk factors in Sichuan Province]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of self-reported hearing loss in Sichuan Province and to identify its associated risk factors. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. Data were derived from the Natural Population Cohort of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, enrolling 12 636 permanent residents from Pidu District and Mianzhu City who completed hearing questionnaire surveys.Among them, 4 391 were male, 8 237 were female, and sex information was missing for 8 participants. The participants were aged 23-88 years. Information on hearing status, demographic characteristics, occupational exposure history, and chronic disease history was collected through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed using R software version 4.3.1. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze risk factors associated with hearing loss. Results: Among all participants, the prevalence of self-reported hearing loss was 30.9% (3 902/12 636). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that advancing age (OR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.05-1.06) and exposure to occupational hazards such as dust or asbestos (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.22-1.74) were significant risk factors for hearing impairment. Furthermore, the presence of comorbid conditions, including diabetes (OR=1.31, 95%CI: 1.16-1.49), hypertension (OR=1.12, 95%CI: 1.02-1.23), otologic diseases (OR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.90-2.49), and oral diseases (OR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.35-1.78), was significantly associated with an elevated risk of hearing loss. Conclusion: Self-reported hearing loss exhibits a considerable prevalence in Sichuan Province, with its etiology linked to a constellation of factors, such as aging, occupational exposures, and underlying chronic morbidities.