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.
Highlights
As people live longer, the incidences of hearing loss, vision loss, and the loss of both senses are increasing, and loss of both senses markedly diminishes quality of life
In Korean adults aged over 40 years of age, the prevalences of cataract, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), diabetic retinopathy (DR), early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and late AMD were high, at 40.2%, 2.1%, 13.4%, 5.1%, and 0.5%, respectively [7]
We aimed to document the prevalences of eye diseases and of hearing impairment in individuals included in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V, and to identify factors associated with concurrent eye disease and hearing impairment
Summary
The incidences of hearing loss, vision loss, and the loss of both senses are increasing, and loss of both senses markedly diminishes quality of life. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a population-based, cross-sectional epidemiological survey conducted by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. In this survey, vision impairment is defined as a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≤0.32 in the better eye. KNHANES 2008–2009 showed the overall prevalence of visual impairment was 0.4% and that in individuals aged over 40 years it was 0.9% [7]. In Korean adults aged over 40 years of age, the prevalences of cataract, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), diabetic retinopathy (DR), early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and late AMD were high, at 40.2%, 2.1%, 13.4%, 5.1%, and 0.5%, respectively [7]. Audiological testing and otologic examinations revealed prevalences of bilateral and unilateral hearing loss at speech-relevant frequencies of 9.31% and 13.42%, respectively [8]
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