Relationships between Hearing Loss and the Prevalences of Cataract, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Korea

Abstract

This study was conducted using the database of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine whether age-related eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are related to hearing loss. 12,899 participants ≥ 40 years of age were included. The weighted prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was not significantly different between the normal hearing group and hearing-impaired group, but the weighted prevalences of cataract, glaucoma, early AMD, and late AMD were significantly different in the two groups. The odds ratio for cataract in the hearing-impaired group was 1.373 (1.118–1.687). The odds ratios of glaucoma, DR, early AMD, and late AMD were not significantly different in the hearing-impaired group. Age was significantly associated with the presence of concurrent cataract and hearing impairment by 6.574-fold per decade. Significant factors that increased the risk of concurrent glaucoma and hearing impairment were age, male gender, and triglyceride. Age, ex-smoker, systolic BP elevation, BMI decline, and fasting blood sugar significantly predicted the presence of concurrent DR and hearing loss. In early AMD, age and triglyceride, and in late AMD, age and systolic BP elevations increased the risk of concurrent AMD and hearing impairment.

Relationship between Inflammatory Food Consumption and Age-Related Hearing Loss in a Prospective Observational Cohort: Results from the Salus in Apulia Study

“…These findings clearly support the role of microcirculation alterations in ARHL pathways. Moreover, diabetes mellitus and glycemic abnormalities could be related to alterations of microvessel metabolism and may be considered the prominent risk factor for age-related conditions such as ARHL or macular abnormalities [43]. However, we could not find such relations in our study.…”

Improving the patient decision-making experience for cataract surgery during the COVID-19 era

“…As an age-related disease, the cataract afflicted population coincides with those hard-of-hearing ( 19 ). Masks are essential to prevent transmission, but pose challenges to persons hard-of-hearing, as they reduce acoustic transmission and prevent lip reading ( 20 ).…”

Diabetic Retinopathy and Hearing Loss: Results from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey

“…This study used Western data and did not target patients with diabetes. There was a population-based study including Asians, which reported that the prevalence of DR was not significantly different between the normal hearing group and hearing loss group [ 24 ]. They did not classify DR according to severity.…”

“…In this study, we have included several related factors that may affect hearing loss in patients with DM, as suggested in previous studies [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. From the KNHANES databases, we collected data regarding various factors obtained through direct interviews using standardized questionnaires.…”