Probable Association of Hearing Loss, Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly

Abstract

Introduction The aging process causes changes in body structure in a continuous manner, and contributes to clinical disorders. Life expectancy is increasing, especially in developing countries. Objective To assess the prevalence of hearing loss and its possible association with hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the elderly. Methods A cross-sectional study with 519 elderly individuals aged over 60 years who underwent an audiological evaluation (pure tone audiometry), and answered a comorbidity questionnaire that included questions about age, gender, tinnitus and medical history, with data concerning DM. The dependent variable was the presence of hearing loss. The independent variables were age, gender, DM and hypertension. The variables were presented in absolute numbers and proportions, and enabled us to estimate the prevalence. The statistical analysis was performed through multiple logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals and values of p < 0.05 for the hearing loss and its associated factors. Results A total of 519 subjects of both genders with a median age of 69 years were evaluated, and the individuals who did not attend the audiometric test were excluded from the study, so the final sample was composed of 498 subjects. Sensorineural hearing loss was more prevalent (66.26%) of most frequently with bilateral hearing loss of 91.56% and 26.50% with mild degree. The statistical analysis showed that the variable DM was associated with the high frequency of hearing loss in the elderly, and according to the multiple logistic regression, the risk factors are independent of the hearing loss only for age and exposure to occupational noise. Conclusions There was a statistically significant difference between hearing loss at high frequencies and the risk factors, that is, age and DM.

Posturographic Analysis in the Elderly with and without sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…The age group was categorized in the present study because another paper from our research group with the same population showed a significant difference between HL and the age groups. 2 However, the data did not demonstrate the same association with postural balance. Possibly, the process of sensory reweighting has actuated by reallocating the essential sensory information for the less affected body system.…”

“…In a Brazilian study with a total of 498 elderly subjects with a median age of 69 years were evaluated, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was more prevalent (66.26%) of most frequently with bilateral hearing loss of 91.56% and 26.50% with mild degree. 2 …”

Implicações audiológicas do diabetes mellitus e da hipertensão arterial: uma revisão sistemática

“…Os estudos selecionados evidenciaram a DM e a HAS como possíveis fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento da perda auditiva [10][11][12] . Pacientes com DM possuem um risco maior de desenvolver uma perda auditiva 12 do tipo sensorioneural 11,12,14,16 . Alguns estudos destacaram que o tabagismo 12 , o elevado Índice de Massa Corpórea (IMC) 10 , a exposição ao ruído e a idade elevada 14 também podem ser determinantes para a perda auditiva (Tabela1).…”

“…Os artigos selecionados para essa revisão foram os que atenderam aos seguintes critérios de inclusão: indivíduos com perda auditiva em decorrência de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis como a diabetes e hipertensão; idiomas português, inglês e espanhol sem restrição de localização, porém com restrição de período de publicação, sendo incluídos estudos publicados de 2014 a 2019. , enquanto outros três estudos realizaram sua pesquisa apenas com a população idosa (idade ≥ a 60 anos) 11,14,17, . O número de sujeitos selecionados para as pesquisas variou de 80 a 37.773 [10][11][12][14][15][16][17][18] , sendo que uma delas não mencionou o número de indivíduos inclusos 13 . Em relação ao sexo dos participantes, destaca-se o feminino 10,13,14,16 porém, não foram todos os autores que mencionaram o sexo dos indivíduos estudados 11,17,18 .…”

“…O número de sujeitos selecionados para as pesquisas variou de 80 a 37.773 [10][11][12][14][15][16][17][18] , sendo que uma delas não mencionou o número de indivíduos inclusos 13 . Em relação ao sexo dos participantes, destaca-se o feminino 10,13,14,16 porém, não foram todos os autores que mencionaram o sexo dos indivíduos estudados 11,17,18 . Um estudo demonstrou distribuição muito semelhante entre os sexos 12 e um evidenciou número mais expressivo de participantes do sexo masculino 15 .…”