Association between hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes and prevalence of hearing impairment in Japan

Epidemiological information regarding the relationship between hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes and hearing impairment (HI) has been controversial. The present cross-sectional study investigated this issue in Japan. The subjects were 371 men and 639 women aged 36‒84 years. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or current use of antihypertensive medication. Dyslipidemia was defined as a serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration ≥140 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration 25 dB HL in the better hearing ear. Adjustments were made for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, household income, and education. The prevalence of HI was 31.5% in men and 20.8% in women. In men, hypertension, but not dyslipidemia or diabetes, was independently positively associated with HI: the adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) was 1.52 (95% CI: 1.07‒2.16). Having at least two cardiovascular risk factors among hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes was independently positively related to HI: the adjusted PR was 1.82 (95% CI: 1.11‒2.99, P for trend = 0.02). Such positive associations were not found in women. Hypertension and having at least two cardiovascular risk factors may be positively associated with HI in men only.