288053
Association between hearing impairment and depressive symptomatology in hispanic/Latino adults: Results from the hispanic community health study/study of latinos (HCHS/SOL)
Frank Bandiera, MPH, PhD,
Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Sumitrajit Dhar, PhD,
Roxelyn & Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Howard J. Hoffman, MA,
Epidemiology and Statistics Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
Franklyn Gonzalez II, MS,
Department of Biostatistics, CB #8030, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Gloria Y. Ho, PhD,
Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Introduction: There is evidence that hearing impairment (HI) is associated with depression in ethnically diverse groups. The objective of this study was to determine if Hispanics with HI and reduced hearing-related quality of life (QOL) have more depressive symptoms than Hispanics without HI. Methods: We examined HI and depression in Hispanic adults aged 18+ (N=16,415) from the HCHS/SOL. Pure Tone Average (PTA; based on thresholds at 0.5,1,2,4 kHz) for the better ear was computed from audiometric data, with higher scores indicating greater HI. Hearing-related QOL was measured by the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), and depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10. Generalized linear models stratified by gender, with adjustments for covariates (age, Hispanic background, income, cigarette use, doctor's visit in the past 12 months) and survey design, were performed using the PTA and self-reported measures as predictors of depression. Results: There was no association between PTA level and depression; however, in models that included the HHIE/HHIA instead of PTA, there was a significant association with depression in both men (b=0.15, standard error[SE]=0.01; p<0.001) and women (b=0.20, SE=0.01; p<0.001). In post-hoc analyses cross-classifying participants on the basis of HI severity using both measures, associations with depression were stronger for categories of increasing HHIE/HHIA impairment severity relative to PTA-derived impairment severity. Discussion: Hearing-related QOL was more strongly associated with depression than hearing impairment. Audiologists who treat Hispanics with HI should be aware of its potential psychosocial effects.
Learning Areas:
Basic medical science applied in public health
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify a relationship between hearing impairment and depression in Hispanic/Latino adults. Evaluate if Hispanics with hearing impairment and reduced hearing-related quality of life have more depressive symptoms than Hispanics without hearing impairment. Discuss recommendations for practitioners who treat Hispanics/Latinos with hearing impairment.
Keyword(s): Hispanic, Latino Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Qualification Statement: I am currently a Psychiatric Epidemiology PhD student at Brown University. I have several years of experience conducting academic research in the fields of psychology and psychiatric epidemiology within minority populations. I am also a certified Cognitive Behavioral mental health clinician, with the majority of my clinical experience working with low-functioning populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.