Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Demographic Characteristics in Iranian Adults with Noise-Induced Hearing Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss (HL), including noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), is a prevalent health issue that affects millions of individuals worldwide and ranks as the third most common disability. This study examines the relationship between HL and cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) such as hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia (DLP) within the Iranian adult population.

Methods: This study was carried out at Iran University of Medical Sciences and involved 1,996 individuals undergoing routine health checks, including audiometry and lab tests.

Results: The study indicated that older age (per each additional year of age, aOR=1.14, 95%CI: 1.12-1.16, P<0.001) and male gender (aOR=3.08, 95%CI: 1.84-5.14, P<0.001) were significantly associated with HL, while a higher educational level served as a protective factor (tertiary education compared to a primary school degree, aOR=0.35, 95%CI: 0.24-0.5, P<0.01). Although initial analyses suggested associations between HL and cardiovascular RFs, these associations lost significance after adjusting for confounding variables. Notably, the presence of a single cardiovascular RF was significantly linked to HL in the total sample (aOR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.04-1.81, P=0.02) and in men (aOR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.05-1.90, P=0.02), but not in women.

Conclusion: This research emphasizes the significant association between hearing loss and demographic factors such as age, gender, and educational attainment in Iranian adults. These findings underscore the necessity for inclusive hearing health strategies that take these factors into account in both occupational and public health contexts.