School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Int J Audiol. 2022 Mar;61(3):220-227. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1910740. Epub 2021 Apr 18.
To assess whether specific non-communicable diseases are associated with hearing aid adoption in older adults with hearing loss. A cross-sectional, observational study. Data was obtained from one of the largest pharmacy-led health and beauty retailers in the United Kingdom. In total, 17,172 older adults were included. Greater odds of adopting hearing aids were associated with being older (Odds ratio [] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [] = 1.02, 1.03), having fewer self-reported hearing difficulties ( = 0.61; 95% = 0.58, 0.64), and greater audiometric hearing loss ( = 1.68; 95% = 1.54, 1.83). The odds of adopting hearing aids were lower if individuals self-reported hypertension ( = 0.87; 95% = 0.79, 0.97) and diabetes ( = 0.83; 95% = 0.72, 0.95). Using a decision tree model, self-reported hearing difficulties, audiometric hearing loss, and age were the best combination of variables to differentiate between individuals that did and did not adopt hearing aids. This study demonstrates that hearing aid adoption is lower in older adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Thus, there is a need for healthcare professionals to identify older adults living with hearing loss and cardiovascular ill-health, ensuring that they receive appropriate patient-centred support to manage their health.
为了评估特定的非传染性疾病是否与听力损失的老年患者使用助听器有关。一项横断面、观察性研究。数据来自英国最大的连锁药店之一的健康与美容产品零售商。共纳入 17172 名老年人。使用助听器的可能性与年龄较大（优势比 [] = 1.03；95%置信区间 [] = 1.02，1.03）、自我报告的听力困难较少（ = 0.61；95%置信区间 [] = 0.58，0.64）和听力损失较大（ = 1.68；95%置信区间 [] = 1.54，1.83）有关。如果个体自我报告患有高血压（ = 0.87；95%置信区间 [] = 0.79，0.97）和糖尿病（ = 0.83；95%置信区间 [] = 0.72，0.95），使用助听器的可能性会降低。使用决策树模型，自我报告的听力困难、听力测试中的听力损失和年龄是区分使用和不使用助听器的个体的最佳变量组合。本研究表明，心血管疾病风险因素的老年患者使用助听器的可能性较低。因此，医疗保健专业人员需要识别患有听力损失和心血管疾病的老年患者，确保他们获得适当的以患者为中心的支持来管理他们的健康。
