Association between audiometric patterns and probabilities of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyze the progression of the audiometric pattern of serial screening tests in companies with hearing conservation program (HCP) to clinical audiometric tests to identify individuals more susceptible to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The procedure is based on the analysis of various audiometric patterns that have been demonstrated to have a statistically significant relation to certain CVDs. Identifying these individuals, based on pattern progression of hearing loss, could result in earlier detection to prevent disease or decrease its morbidity.Study designUsing the data from the clinical and screening audiograms, pattern analysis was performed and statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test, odds ratios and P values were used to calculate the confidence intervals.MethodsThe analysis was based on potential risk factors related to CVD in 29 cohorts of 10,105 subjects. Of these, a total of 704 subjects also had clinical audiometric tests and examination by an ENT to verify the exactitude of the screening test questionnaire and pattern relation with the clinical audiogram.ResultsA first analysis was made on 704 subjects who had clinical evaluation and clinical audiometric tests showed results comparable to those of Friedland. A correlation between the questionnaire of the clinical and the self‐reporting screening tests questionnaires was performed and showed a correlation between the following risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking. Analysis of the progression of audiometric patterns suggested a relationship with the predictive probabilities of developing CVDs.ConclusionProgression toward low‐frequency hearing loss patterns provides early identification of patients whose audiometric pattern progression suggests increased probability of developing CVDs. The treating physician, by prescribing further investigations, could potentially prevent or reduce the morbidity of these diseases.Level of EvidenceIII

Low-Frequency Audiometric Notch and Vascular Risk in Age-Related Hearing Loss

“…Another audiometric feature assessed in this work was the averaged hearing thresholds for LFHL between 250 and 1,000 Hz, as previously reported [Johnsson and Hawkins, 1972b;Lowell and Paparella, 1977;Friedland et al, 2009;Bertrand and Huang, 2018;Wattamwar et al, 2018]. Stratification of the hearing thresholds for LFHL (into groups of patients with a mean >25 dB HL, >30 dB HL, or >40 dB HL) was also explored.…”

“…The stria vascularis is important in vascularization of the organ of Corti and in generation of the endocochlear potential voltages. Decreased vascularization of the auditory system negatively affects hearing by stria vascularis dysfunction, resulting in abnormal endolymph potentials, essential for cochlear hair cell depolarization [Bertrand and Huang, 2018]. In animal models, an endolymphatic potential lower than 20 mV provokes "cochlea starving" [Bertrand and Huang, 2018].…”

“…Decreased vascularization of the auditory system negatively affects hearing by stria vascularis dysfunction, resulting in abnormal endolymph potentials, essential for cochlear hair cell depolarization [Bertrand and Huang, 2018]. In animal models, an endolymphatic potential lower than 20 mV provokes "cochlea starving" [Bertrand and Huang, 2018]. Vascular diameters vary through the different cochlear turns and can vary more in the apex region, which detects low-frequency sound, than in the basal turn, detecting high-frequency sound [Bertrand and Huang, 2018].…”

“…In animal models, an endolymphatic potential lower than 20 mV provokes "cochlea starving" [Bertrand and Huang, 2018]. Vascular diameters vary through the different cochlear turns and can vary more in the apex region, which detects low-frequency sound, than in the basal turn, detecting high-frequency sound [Bertrand and Huang, 2018]. Johnsson and Hawkins demonstrated that atrophy of the stria vascularis decreases vascularization of the cochlea, which primarily affects the apical and basal segments.…”

Evaluation and Management of Patients with Diabetes and Hearing Loss

“…For example, microagniopathy may result in direct compromise of vascular supply to the inner ear; the apical region representing the most distal region of this supply may show early pathology. 9,[27][28][29][30] On the contrary, elevated risk for noise-induced damage may underlie early cal Center, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 (e-mail: cspankovich@umc.edu).…”