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

Abstract

Background: Previous studies found a relationship between audiometric patterns and the risk of developing vascular disease and considered the strial and low-sloping hearing loss of interest in predicting vascular disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether low-frequency audiometric patterns can be associated with the presence of vascular risk in a group of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) patients. Methods: A retrospective case series of 156 patients diagnosed with ARHL between July 2021 and July 2022 was assessed for a possible correlation between vascular risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure [HBP], diabetes mellitus [DM], and dyslipidemia [DLP]) and audiometric patterns. Results: One hundred fifty-six patients (79 women and 77 men) with a mean age of 73.2 ± 10.9 years who were diagnosed with ARHL were studied. A low-frequency audiometric notch at 250 Hz or 500 Hz verified in 36 patients was significantly associated with the presence of HBP, DM, or DLP (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48–8.46, p < 0.001). A positive association between low-frequency hearing loss and the presence of at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor (adjusted OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.01–4.62, p = 0.046) was verified. No other association was observed between audiometric patterns and vascular risk factors. Conclusion: Low-frequency audiometric notches might be related to vascular risk in ARHL patients and merit future attention in larger population studies.