Association of atherosclerosis cardiovascular diseases with hearing loss in older people: a cross-sectional age-stratified analyses of 4,441 participants

BACKGROUND: Research on the association between atherosclerosis cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs) and hearing loss (HL) in older people has yielded mixed findings in recent years. Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing early strategies that address both cardiovascular health and auditory function in older adults. METHODS: To examine the potential association between common ASCVDs (heart attack, coronary heart disease, and stroke) and HL, assessing the mediating effect of the frailty index (FI) and Life's essential 8 (LE8) metrics. The degree of HL was measured by pure tone average (PTA). This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2003 to 2018, including 4,441 adults aged 60 or older with comprehensive cardiovascular and hearing measurement data. Statistical analysis was conducted from February 16, 2024, to July 7, 2024. RESULTS: The study identified significant correlations between all three ASCVDs and HL in older participants aged 60 or older, particularly noting that heart attacks were notably associated with HL at higher frequencies (2 and 4 kHz). Older participants, especially those aged 75 and above, were more susceptible to stroke-related HL, with a delayed impact observed in females. FI and LE8 mediated the heart attack-HL association in adults aged 75 and above, with FI demonstrating a stronger role than LE8. CONCLUSION: The findings elucidate a complex interplay between cardiovascular health and auditory function, emphasizing that heart attacks may exacerbate HL through the frailty pathway in certain older populations. These results highlight the need for tailored cardiovascular interventions and proactive measures to mitigate HL risks. Future research should focus on defining these pathophysiological associations more clearly to develop targeted interventions for vulnerable older people.