Sex-specific Association Between High-frequency Hearing Thresholds and Sarcopenia in Community-dwelling Older Adults

Objective　To investigate the association between hearing thresholds and sarcopenia, as well as related factors, including muscle mass, muscle strength, and the physical function, among older adults.Patients or Materials　Community-dwelling adults ≥65 years of age who participated in the Kyotango Longevity Cohort Study.Methods　A cross-sectional analysis was performed. Hearing thresholds at 1,000 and 4,000 Hz were measured using an audiometer. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the criteria defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between hearing thresholds and sarcopenia and its components, adjusting for potential confounding variables.Results　A total of 1,032 participants (415 males) with a mean age of 73.6 years were analyzed. The mean (SD) hearing thresholds were 31.3 (17.2) dB at 1,000 Hz and 43.6 (20.8) dB at 4,000 Hz. Sarcopenia was present in 7% of the participants (7% of men and 6% of women). In males, higher thresholds (worse hearing) at 4000 Hz were significantly associated with increased odds of sarcopenia (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.37, p = 0.001), whereas no association was observed in females ( p for interaction = 0.007). In men, severe hearing loss (≥60 dB at 4000 Hz) was associated with a greater likelihood of sarcopenia (OR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.31-9.13, p for interaction = 0.02).Conclusion　Poor hearing at high frequencies was significantly associated with sarcopenia in older men but not in women. These results suggest a sex-specific association between high-frequency hearing loss and sarcopenia in older adults.