Ramos-Rojas José, Valdivia Gonzalo, Terán-Tapia Dominique, Marcotti Anthony, Fuentes-López Eduardo
Programa de Magíster en Epidemiología, Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile.
Escuela de Odontología, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610658, Chile.
Audiol Res. 2025 Aug 12;15(4):106. doi: 10.3390/audiolres15040106.
Few studies have examined the relationship between hearing aid use and physical activity levels, yielding inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to determine the possible association between hearing aid use and physical activity levels in a representative sample of older adults with hearing loss and a clinical indication for hearing aid use in Chile. : We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from a nationally representative health survey employing geographically stratified, multistage probability sampling. Participants were aged ≥60, had medical indication for hearing aid use, demonstrated normal cognitive function, and reported no motor disability. Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). We also collected data on self-perceived hearing status, specialist recommendations for hearing aid use, and adherence among device owners. Multivariate ordinal regression models evaluated the association between hearing aid use and physical activity, accounting for the survey's complex sampling design. The sample comprised 356 individuals, representing 599,912 older adults after applying survey weights. Overall, 50.5% reported owning a hearing aid; of these, 46.8% always used their device, and 19.1% never used it. Compared with consistent users, participants who used their hearing aid "sometimes" or "rarely" had significantly lower odds of higher physical activity levels (OR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02-0.85; = 0.03 and OR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02-0.96; = 0.04, respectively). Those who never used their hearing aid had 86% lower odds of higher physical activity (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.94; = 0.04). : Consistent hearing aid use was associated with higher physical activity levels in older adults with hearing loss. These findings support the integration of hearing rehabilitation into broader strategies for promoting healthy aging.
很少有研究探讨助听器使用与身体活动水平之间的关系，结果并不一致。本研究的目的是在智利有听力损失且有临床使用助听器指征的老年人代表性样本中，确定助听器使用与身体活动水平之间的可能关联。我们对一项全国代表性健康调查的数据进行了横断面分析，该调查采用地理分层、多阶段概率抽样。参与者年龄≥60岁，有使用助听器的医学指征，认知功能正常，且报告无运动障碍。使用全球身体活动问卷（GPAQ）评估身体活动情况。我们还收集了关于自我感知听力状况、助听器使用的专家建议以及设备使用者的依从性的数据。多变量有序回归模型评估了助听器使用与身体活动之间的关联，并考虑了调查的复杂抽样设计。样本包括356人，应用调查权重后代表599,912名老年人。总体而言，50.5%的人报告拥有助听器；其中，46.8%的人始终使用他们的设备，19.1%的人从未使用过。与始终使用者相比，“有时”或“很少”使用助听器的参与者身体活动水平较高的几率显著较低（OR = 0.13；95%CI：0.02 - 0.85；P = 0.03和OR = 0.13；95%CI：0.02 - 0.96；P = 0.04）。从未使用过助听器的人身体活动水平较高的几率低86%（OR = 0.16；95%CI：0.03 - 0.94；P = 0.04）。始终使用助听器与有听力损失的老年人较高的身体活动水平相关。这些发现支持将听力康复纳入促进健康老龄化的更广泛策略中。
