Severity of hearing Loss linked to increased risk of hospitalization in older adults: Study

A new study conducted by Anthony Thai and team, found that although hearing aid use was not linked to a lower risk of hospitalization in the group with hearing loss, hearing loss was linked to a greater risk of hospitalization.

The findings of this were published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

An increased likelihood of hospitalization is linked to hearing loss in older persons. There is currently insufficient data to determine if using hearing aids is related to fewer hospitalizations among those who have hearing loss. In order to determine the relationship between the degree of audiometric hearing loss, hearing aid use, and hospitalization, this study was carried out.

For participants 65 years of age or older, audiometric and health care usage data from four waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2016 were utilized in this population-based cross-sectional investigation. The primary objectives of the study were participant-reported hearing aid use and the degree of audiometric hearing loss. Respondents' reported hospitalization in the previous 12 months was the major result. To determine the relationship between hospitalization and the degree of hearing loss, multivariable logistic regression was used. 

The key findings of this study were:

1. 875 (42.5%) of the 2060 respondents had normal hearing, followed by 653 (31.7%) light hearing loss, 435 (21.1%) moderate hearing loss, and 97 (4.7%) severe to profound hearing loss.

2. Moderate and severe hearing loss were linked to hospitalization in a multivariable study.

3. 200 (16.9%) of the 1185 respondents who had at least slight hearing loss admitted to using a hearing aid.

4. The use of hearing aids was not linked to hospitalization, even among respondents with moderate or severe hearing loss, according to a propensity score-matched study.

In conclusion, larger prospective studies with accurate information on the frequency of hearing aid usage should be conducted to assess the relationship between the use of hearing aids and hospitalization.

Reference: 

Thai, A., Khan, S. I., Choi, J., Ma, Y., & Megwalu, U. C. (2022). Associations of hearing loss severity and hearing aid use with hospitalization among older US adults. JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2022.2399