Jackson Heart Study: Aggregate cardiovascular disease risk and auditory profiles.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and cochlear function in African Americans.

METHODS

Relationships between hearing loss, cochlear function, and CVD risk factors were assessed in a cross-sectional analysis of 1106 Jackson Heart Study participants. Hearing loss was defined as puretone average (PTA) > 15 dB HL. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were collected for  = 1.0-8.0 kHz. Two amplitude averages were computed: DPOAE (  ≤ 4 kHz) and DPOAE (  ≥ 6 kHz). Based on major CVD risk factors (diabetes, current smoking, total cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL or treatment, and systolic blood pressure [BP]/diastolic BP ≥ 140/≥90 mmHg or treatment), four risk groups were created: 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 risk factors. Logistic regression estimated the odds of hearing loss and absent/reduced DPOAE and DPOAE by CVD risk status adjusting for age, sex, education, BMI, vertigo, and noise exposure.

RESULTS

With multivariable adjustment, diabetes was associated with hearing loss (OR = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.04-2.10]). However, there was not a statistically significant relationship between CVD risk factors (individually or for overall risk) and DPOAEs.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes was associated with hearing loss. Neither individual CVD risk factors nor overall risk showed a relationship to cochlear dysfunction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2b.