266129 Association of cardiovascular risk status and hearing loss in older adults after thirty-nine years of follow-up: Chicago Healthy Aging Study (CHAS) preliminary findings

Monday, October 29, 2012

Rachael Baiduc, BS , Roxelyn & Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Gayla Poling, PhD , Roxelyn & Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Thanh-Huyen Vu, MD, PhD , Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Daniel Garside, BS , Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Martha Daviglus, MD, PhD , Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Sumitrajit Dhar, PhD , Roxelyn & Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Purpose: To explore the contribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors on hearing outcomes. Background: A staggering 31 million Americans have hearing loss, a figure quickly growing as the population ages. Age-related hearing loss manifests bilaterally at high frequencies and may result in social isolation, anxiety, and depression. CVD risk factors contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality yet there are no data to clarify the long-term association between CVD risk status and hearing outcomes. In this pilot study, we explore the effects of low-risk (LR) and not LR status on hearing in older adults. Methods: Participants were classified as LR or not LR for CVD in young adulthood (25-55 years). Thirty-nine years later, a subset of 130 CHAS participants (18.7% black, 28.5% female) aged 65-84 years underwent advanced audiologic assessment including hearing thresholds (0.25-8.0 kHz) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE; 0.50-5.0 kHz) testing. Results: We hypothesized baseline LR status would result in better hearing outcomes. Conversely, pilot data revealed poorer hearing outcomes in participants classified as LR at baseline. For example, with adjustments for age, sex, and race, DPOAE levels were significantly higher (i.e., better) in not LR participants from 2.0-5.0 kHz (p < 0.05). This trend was consistent for thresholds at 4.0-8.0 kHz (p < 0.05). Implications: These pilot results underscore the need for a more comprehensive assessment of CVD risk status on hearing outcomes. To this end, future investigations will extend auditory measures to the highest testable frequency (20.0 kHz) where age-related changes are most pronounced.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the role of CVD risk factors in hearing loss. • Describe two clinical measures of hearing status that can be used to quantify hearing loss in older adults. • Analyze the relation between CVD risk status and hearing impairment in older adults.

Keywords: Aging, Hearing Protection

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a PhD/MPH candidate I have worked as a student investigator on this project. I have been chiefly responsible for the design and measurement of these hearing data. Among my scientific interests is awareness and prevention of hearing loss, especially in individuals at high-risk for cardiovascular disease.
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.