Abstract
BackgroundEmerging evidence implicates excess weight as a potential risk factor for hearing loss. However, this association remained inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to systematically and quantitatively review the published observational study on the association between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and hearing loss.MethodsThe odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled under a random-effects model. Fourteen observational studies were eligible for the inclusion in the final analysis.ResultsIn the meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, the ORs for prevalent hearing loss were 1.10 (95% CI 0.88, 1.38) underweight, 1.14 (95% CI 0.99, 1.32) for overweight, OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.14, 1.72) for obesity, 1.14 (95% CI 1.04, 1.24) for each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, and 1.22 (95% CO 0.88. 1.68) for higher WC. In the meta-analysis of longitudinal studies, the RRs were 0.96 (95% CI 0.52, 1.79) for underweight, 1.15 (95% CI 1.04, 1.27) for overweight, 1.38 (95% CI 1.07, 1.79) for obesity, 1.15 (95% CI 1.01, 1.30) for each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, and 1.11 (95% CI 1.01, 1.22) for higher WC.ConclusionsIn summary, our findings add weight to the evidence that elevated BMI and higher WC may be positively associated with the risk of hearing loss.
Highlights
Hearing loss is a growing important global public health concern
In the past few years, the findings of several epidemiological studies [19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28] have indicated that elevated body mass index (BMI), in the obesity range, and to a lesser extent, in the overweight range, was positively associated with hearing loss
Study selection The observational studies of any design were selected for the final analysis only if they reported the risk estimates (relative risks (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), or hazard ratios (HRs)) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association between BMI or waist circumference (WC) and hearing loss in adults
Summary
Hearing loss is a growing important global public health concern. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated there were 466 million (6.1% of the world’s population) people living with disabling hearing loss worldwide. Yang et al Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine (2020) 25:25 diabetes mellitus (DM) [14] and cardiovascular disease (CVD) [15,16,17], as potential risk factors for hearing loss. The association between excess body weight and hearing loss remained inconclusive, as other studies found no association between both conditions [29,30,31,32]. Emerging evidence implicates excess weight as a potential risk factor for hearing loss. We aimed to systematically and quantitatively review the published observational study on the association between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and hearing loss
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