This cohort study indicates that, although many cardiovascular risk factors are associated with hearing loss, the effects are small and of doubtful clinical relevance.

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Objectives To study the extent to which otitis media in childhood is associated with adult hearing thresholds. Furthermore, to study if the effects of otitis media on adult hearing thresholds are moderated by age or noise exposure. Design Population-based cohort study of 32,786 participants who had their hearing tested by pure-tone audiometry in primary school and again at ages ranging from 20–56 years. 3066 children were diagnosed with hearing loss, the remaining sample had normal childhood hearing. Results Compared to participants with normal childhood hearing, those diagnosed with childhood hearing loss caused by otitis media with effusion (n=1255), chronic suppurative otitis media (n=108) or hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media (n=613) had significantly reduced adult hearing thresholds in the whole frequency range (2 dB/17–20 dB/7–10 dB, respectively). The effects were adjusted for age, sex and noise exposure. Children diagnosed with hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media had somewhat improved hearing thresholds as adults. The effects of chronic suppurative otitis media and hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media on adult hearing thresholds were larger in participants tested in middle adulthood (ages 40 to 56 years) than in those tested in young adulthood (ages 20 to 40 years). Eardrum pathology added a marginally increased risk of adult hearing loss (1–3 dB) in children with otitis media with effusion or hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media. Our study could not reveal significant differences in the effect of self-reported noise exposure on adult hearing thresholds between the groups with otitis media and the group with normal childhood hearing. Conclusions This cohort study indicates that chronic suppurative otitis media and recurrent acute otitis media in childhood are associated with adult hearing loss, underlining the importance of optimal treatment in these conditions. It appears that ears with a subsequent hearing loss after otitis media in childhood age at a faster rate than those without, however this should be confirmed by studies with several follow-up tests through adulthood.

Objective: To examine the association between otitis media in childhood and dizziness in adulthood.Design: Longitudinal, population-based cohort study of 21,962 adults (aged 20-59 years, mean 40) who completed a health questionnaire in the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study. At 7, 10 and 13 years of age, the same individuals underwent screening audiometry in a longitudinal school hearing investigation. Children found with hearing loss underwent an ear, nose and throat specialist examination.Results: Adults diagnosed with childhood chronic suppurative otitis media (n=102) and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media (n=590) were significantly more likely to have increased risk of reported dizziness when compared to adults with normal hearing as children at the school investigation and also a negative history of recurrent otitis media (n=21,270), p<0.05. After adjusting for adult age, sex and socio-economic status, the odds ratios were 2.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-3.3) and 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0-1.5), respectively. Conclusion:This longitudinal cohort study suggests that childhood chronic suppurative otitis media and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media are associated with increased risk of dizziness in adulthood. This might reflect a permanent effect of inflammatory mediators or toxins on the vestibular system. The new finding stresses the importance of treatment and prevention of these otitis media conditions.

The aim of the study was to examine childhood high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HF-SNHL) and the effects of combined exposure with aging or noise exposure on HF hearing thresholds in adulthood. Population-based cohort study of 30,003 adults (mean age 40 years) underwent an audiometry and completed a hearing questionnaire. At age 7-13 years, the same people had participated in a longitudinal school hearing investigation, in which 283 participants were diagnosed with HF-SNHL [PTA 3-8 kHz ≥ 25 dB HL (mean 45 dB HL), worse hearing ear], and 29,720 participants had normal hearing thresholds. The effect of childhood HF-SNHL on adult hearing threshold was significantly moderated by age. Age stratified analyses showed that the difference in HF hearing thresholds between adults with and without childhood HF-SNHL was 33 dB (95 % CI 31-34) in young adults (n = 173, aged 20-39 years) and 37 dB (95 % CI 34-39) in middle-aged adults (n = 110, aged 40-56 years). The combined exposure of childhood HF-SNHL and noise exposure showed a simple additive effect. It appears to be a super-additive effect of childhood-onset HF-SNHL and aging on adult hearing thresholds. An explanation might be that already damaged hair cells are more susceptible to age-related degeneration. To exclude possible birth cohort effects, the finding should be confirmed by a study with several audiometries in adulthood.

Childhood hearing disorders associated with tinnitus in adulthood include sensorineural hearing loss, chronic suppurative otitis media, and hearing loss associated with a history of recurrent acute otitis media. After adjustment for the adult hearing threshold, none of the childhood hearing disorders was positively associated with tinnitus. Hence, it appears that these significant associations are mediated or transmitted through adult hearing loss.

Background Knowledge about the long-term course of the neurologic component of hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is scarce. Aims To study the course and prognostic factors of the neurosensory component of HAVS over a period of 22 years. Methods Forty male sheet metal workers, with a mean age of 60 (range 45–78) years at follow-up, were examined with a test battery in 1994 and 2017. At baseline, the sample comprised 27 workers with HAVS symptoms and 13 workers without HAVS symptoms. Among the 27 workers, 25 workers reported work-related hand–arm vibration during follow-up (mean 3639 h). In 2017, the mean time since vibration stopped was 8.4 years. Results Among the 27 workers with HAVS in 1994, no overall statistically significant change was observed in hand numbness (Stockholm Workshop Scale), shoulder/arm pain (pain scale) or finger pain from 1994 to 2017. However, vibration exposure during follow-up was associated with increased finger pain. Cotinine, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, glycosylated haemoglobin and folate were not associated with changes in neurosensory symptoms or manual dexterity (Grooved Pegboard) from 1994 to 2017. A diagnosis of HAVS in 1994 did not predict poor hand strength 22 years later. Isolated hand numbness (without white finger attacks) was more common at baseline than at follow-up. Conclusions This 22-year follow-up study indicates a tendency towards irreversibility of hand numbness and finger pain in workers with HAVS. Continued vibration exposure seems to predict increased finger pain. Our findings highlight the importance of HAVS prevention.

BackgroundVibration-induced white finger (VWF) is often assessed using the Stockholm Workshop Scale (SWS) and cold challenge plethysmography. However, long-term longitudinal studies using both methods are scarce.AimsTo study the long-term course and prognostic factors of VWF assessed with the SWS and photoplethysmography (PPG), and to examine the effects of lifestyle on PPG score, regardless of VWF status.MethodsForty male construction workers were examined with a test battery and clinical examination in 1994 and 2016/17.ResultsAt baseline, the sample comprised 27 workers with, and 13 without, symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Thirty-five workers reported vibration exposure during follow-up. The mean age of the workers was 60 years (45–78) at follow-up. The paired t-test showed that PPG scores deteriorated from 1994 to 2017 in the 27 workers with HAVS in 1994 (mean difference 2.7 min, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2–5.2). However, there was no statistically significant change in SWS scores in these workers over time. Smoking and age were associated with PPG score deterioration. Vibration exposure during follow-up predicted SWS score deterioration: 1000 h of exposure predicted a deterioration stage of 0.09 (95% CI 0.03–0.16). Analysis of all 40 workers showed that 2017 PPG scores were associated with positive serum cotinine and self-reported smoking during follow-up.ConclusionsWhereas age and smoking predicted a PPG deterioration, continued vibration exposure predicted worsening of white finger symptoms. The association of PPG score and smoking should be considered in diagnostic and prognostic factor evaluations.