Glycosylated hemoglobin level is associated with hearing impairment in older Japanese: the Kurabuchi study

• Autores: Takehiro Michikawa, Kunio Mizutari, Hideyuki Saito, Toru Takebayashi, Yuji Nishiwaki
• Localización: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, ISSN 0002-8614, Vol. 62, Nº. 7, 2014, págs. 1231-1237
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives: To examine the association between glycemic levels (glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) and hearing impairment in a general older population.

    Design: Community-based prospective longitudinal cohort study.

    Setting: Kurabuchi Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

    Participants: Residents (N = 831; 350 men, 481 women) aged 65 and older were examined in 2005 and 2006 and analyzed in a cross-sectional study. Residents without hearing impairment at baseline who participated in audiometric re-examinations 4 years later were analyzed (n = 338).

    Measurements: Hearing impairment was defined as failure to hear a 30-dB signal at 1 kHz and a 40-dB signal at 4 kHz in the better ear in pure-tone audiometric tests.

    Results: Mean HbA1c level (National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program) was 5.8 ± 0.8% (40 mmol/mol). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of hearing impairment associated with HbA1c were estimated using a logistic regression model. In the cross-sectional analysis, HbA1c levels were positively associated with hearing impairment (OR per 1.0% increase in HbA1c = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.00−1.68). This association persisted even after excluding 58 participants with a self-reported history of diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Longitudinal analysis revealed the temporality of the discussed association (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.03−2.23).

    Conclusion: The present study provides supportive evidence for a causal link between hyperglycemia and age-related hearing loss.