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

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-09-02T19:30:33+05:30 | Updated On 2 Sept 2022 9:42 PM IST

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

hearing aidJAMA Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgeryhospitalization

Source : JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751