Increased sleep apnea risk among middle-aged men tied to hearing loss

China: In middle-aged males with high, intermediate/high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the risk of hearing impairment is significantly increased, especially at a high frequency of 4 kHz, claims a recent study in PLOS One.

Midlife males with obstructive sleep apnea bear a high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, there is a controversy on the association between OSA and hearing impairment. Zhong Xin, Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, and colleagues aimed to observe the incidence of hearing loss in middle-aged males with different risks for OSA.

The study recruited 794 men aged 40–65 between January and June 2021 who participated in health examination and pure tone hearing screening. Collection of medical history was done. Testing of height, weight, and blood pressure were done, and biochemical test including blood lipids and blood glucose was performed. 

The observed subjects were divided into low, intermediate, and high groups for OSA risk according to the STOP-BANG score. Hearing impairment was defined as a failure in responding to any pure tone of 25 dB HL in any ear at the frequencies: 4 kHz for the high-frequency range and 0.5k, 1k, and 2 kHz for the low/medium frequency range. In those groups, the occurrence of hearing loss was compared after adjusting the cardiovascular risk factors.