Comparison of Various Anthropometric Indices as Risk Factors for Hearing Impairment in Asian Women

Abstract

BackgroundThe objective of the present study was to examine the associations between various anthropometric measures and metabolic syndrome and hearing impairment in Asian women.MethodsWe identified 11,755 women who underwent voluntary routine health checkups at Yeungnam University Hospital between June 2008 and April 2014. Among these patients, 2,485 participants were <40 years old, and 1,072 participants lacked information regarding their laboratory findings or hearing and were therefore excluded. In total 8,198 participants were recruited into our study.ResultsThe AUROC value for metabolic syndrome was 0.790 for the waist to hip ratio (WHR). The cutoff value was 0.939. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting metabolic syndrome were 72.7% and 71.7%, respectively. The AUROC value for hearing loss was 0.758 for WHR. The cutoff value was 0.932. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting hearing loss were 65.8% and 73.4%, respectively. The WHR had the highest AUC and was the best predictor of metabolic syndrome and hearing loss. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that WHR levels were positively associated with four hearing thresholds including averaged hearing threshold and low, middle, and high frequency thresholds. In addition, multivariate logistic analysis revealed that those with a high WHR had a 1.347–fold increased risk of hearing loss compared with the participants with a low WHR.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that WHR may be a surrogate marker for predicting the risk of hearing loss resulting from metabolic syndrome.

Association of Metabolic Syndrome with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…Moreover, abdominal lipid-related factors were reported to be associated with hearing loss at specific frequency bands [ 25 ]. Abdominal adipose tissue has also been associated with hearing loss in women, [ 8 ] and weight-hip ratio (WHR) may be an indicator of the risk of hearing loss [ 18 ].…”

“…Several studies also observed relationships between obesity-related anthropometric indices and hearing loss. For example, one study found that WHR may be a surrogate marker for predicting the risk of hearing loss, [ 18 ] whereas another study suggested that FRAs were associated with hearing loss at specific frequencies, as determined by sex and the presence of diabetes, and that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is particularly important role for hearing [ 25 ]. Two studies found relationships between BMI and hearing loss, with one finding that underweight and severe obesity were associated with an increased prevalence of hearing loss in a Korean population, and the other reporting that overweight was associated with an increased risk of hearing loss in a Japanese population [ 26 ].…”

“…Sensorineural hearing loss is an important public health problem whose prevalence has increased as life expectancy has become longer [1]. For example, the Global Burden of Disease Study reported that the prevalence of hearing loss increased from 14.33% in 1990 to 18.06% in 2015 and that hearing loss is the fifth most frequent cause of disability in both developed and developing countries [2]. Approximately 50% of people aged over 70 years and 80% of those aged over 85 years experience hearing loss, which affects their ability to communicate and their social lives [1].…”

Differences in Anthropometric Traits and Trend of Changes in High School Students

“…The results of our research are in accordance with a study that showed significant differences in terms of body height and body mass between male and female students (21). Another indicator which was not taken into account in the study is waist circumference which can be a useful indicator of nutritional status in children and in adults (22), so studying WHR in future studies is highly recommended. Based on a study, people with the highest waist circumference had the greatest tendency for hypertension, diabetes, increased blood fat and metabolic syndrome, compared to those with a normal waist circumference (22)).…”

“…Another indicator which was not taken into account in the study is waist circumference which can be a useful indicator of nutritional status in children and in adults (22), so studying WHR in future studies is highly recommended. Based on a study, people with the highest waist circumference had the greatest tendency for hypertension, diabetes, increased blood fat and metabolic syndrome, compared to those with a normal waist circumference (22)). It is known that heredity plays an important and key role in the growth and development in humans.…”