Higher Risk Of Hearing Loss Research Articles

Association between the systemic immune-inflammation index and hearing loss: A cross-sectional study of NHANES 2005 to 2018.

The relationship between systemic inflammation and hearing loss (HL) remains unclear. To investigate the association between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and objective HL, this study was performed. Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2005 to 2018 were analyzed. Two types of hearing loss were investigated: speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL) and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). The SII score was constructed using the levels of peripheral neutrophil (N), lymphocyte (L), and platelet (P), and was defined as P multiplied by N/L (in units of 109/L). Weighted multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to examine the relationship between HL and high-SII group (≥330 × 109/L). A total of 6428 participants were included in the study. This study found that the high-SII group was positively associated with a higher risk of HL (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.57, P < .05) and HFHL (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.46, P < .05), but not significant for SFHL (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.94-1.37, P > .05). Subgroup analysis showed that this association was similar in different age groups. Finally, sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the association. In the full model, increasing SII index per SD was associated with HL (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.09-1.26, P < .001) and HFHL (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06-1.21, P < .001). The significance of SFHL was not detected with the increasing SII index (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.94-1.37, P > .05). SII score was associated with HL and HFHL in the general adult population of the United States, but was not significantly correlated with SFHL.

Role of Newborn Hearing Screening Done Over One Year in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Newborn hearing screening (NHS) is universally acknowledged as a critical early intervention to prevent adverse developmental outcomes caused by undetected hearing loss. Despite its proven benefits, the implementation of NHS varies, especially in tertiary care hospitals that manage high-risk neonates. This study investigates the effectiveness and implementation of NHS protocols in these settings. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Neonatology at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai. All newborns delivered between January 2023 and December 2023 were included. Screening involved initial otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) tests, automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) followed by brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) for those who failed.Data on demographic characteristics, screening results, and follow-up compliance were collected and analyzed. A total of 1,398 neonates were screened. Initial screeningresulted in 416 (29.7%) referrals. Follow-up screenings showed high compliance rates, with significant detections of hearing impairments through BERA. The screening was completed for 1,341 babies. Fifty-five babies were lost to follow-up. Of these, 2 babies (0.1%) with a high risk for hearing loss were diagnosed with bilateral severe hearing loss. The study also noted demographic factors such as kinship and obstetric history that might influence hearing loss risks. NHS plays a vital role in the early detection and management of hearing impairments, which is crucial for preventing negative impacts on a child's development. This study advocates for the systematic implementation of NHS protocols in all tertiary care hospitals, especially those serving high-risk neonates, to ensure optimal developmental outcomes.

Comparative Evaluation of Hearing and Salivary Flow Rate in Smokers and Non-smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Smoking is a major global health issue that is linked to varioushealth conditions, including hearing loss and reduced salivary flow. This study aims to explore the relationship between smoking, hearing loss, and salivary flow rate. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted over two months at a tertiary healthcare institute in Central India, involving 100 participants (50 smokers and 50 non-smokers) aged 18-55 years. Hearing status was assessed using audiometry, and the salivary flow rate was measured. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Results Smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of hearing loss (40%) compared to non-smokers (10%). The salivary flow rate was significantly lower in smokers (mean 0.5540 ml/min) than in non-smokers (mean 0.9240 ml/min). However, no significant correlation was found between the duration and frequency of smoking with hearing loss or salivary flow rate. Conclusion Smoking significantly impacts both hearing and salivary flow rate, hence smokers show a higher risk of hearing loss and reduced salivary flow rate. Early hearing screenings and preventive measures are recommended for smokers. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to explore the long-term effects of smoking on these health parameters.

The cochlear dose and the age at radiotherapy predict severe hearing loss after passive scattering proton therapy and cisplatin in children with medulloblastoma.

Hearing loss (HL) is associated with worse neurocognitive outcomes among patients with medulloblastoma. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with severe HL and to evaluate the generalizability of a published HL calculator among patients treated with passive scattering proton therapy (PSPT) and cisplatin. We identified patients aged 3-21 years who were treated at our centers between 2007 and 2022. Audiograms were graded using the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Boston scale. Time to grades 3-4 HL was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox models to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Seventy-nine patients were treated with PSPT at a median age of 7.5 years (range: 3.1-21.1). The mean cochlear dose (Dmc) (±SD) was 31.5 ± 8.5 Gy, and the cumulative cisplatin dose was 295 ± 50 mg/m2. Fifty-nine patients (75%) received amifostine. Patients completed a median of 9 audiograms (range: 4-22) with a median audiogram follow-up of 49 months (range: 6-177). Twenty-seven patients (34%) had grades 3-4 HL. In adjusted Cox models, only higher Dmc (HR = 1.12, 95% CI:1.06-1.18) was associated with grades 3-4 HL. The predicted 3-year incidence of grades 3-4 HL was 40.0% (95% CI: 21.3-66.3) and 66.7% (95% CI: 35.4-93.7) for children with Dmc ≥36 Gy and age at radiotherapy ≥7 and <7 years, respectively (P = .042). It was 8.9% (95% CI: 2.3-31.6) and 15.6% (95% CI: 5.3-41.1) for children with Dmc <36 Gy and age at radiotherapy ≥7 and <7 years, respectively (P = .78). Children <7 years at radiotherapy with a Dmc ≥36 Gy are at higher risk for HL.

Effects of cooking with solid fuel on hearing loss in Chinese adults—Based on two cohort studies

The association between cooking fuel and hearing loss still needs more research to clarify, and two longitudinal cohort studies were explored to find if solid fuel use for cooking affected hearing in Chinese adults. The data from Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) and Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed. Participants (older than 18) without hearing loss at baseline and follow-up visits were included, which were divided into clean fuel and solid fuel groups. Hearing loss rate was from follow-up visits (both in year 2011) until the recent one (year 2018 in CHARLS and 2019 in CLHLS). Cox regressions were applied to examine the associations with adjustment for potential confounders. Fixed-effect meta-analysis was used to pool the results. A total of 9049 participants (average age 8.34 ± 9.12 [mean ± SD] years; 4247 [46.93%] males) were included in CHARLS cohort study and 2265 participants (average age, 78.75 ± 9.23 [mean ± SD] years; 1148 [49.32%] males) in CLHLS cohort study. There were 1518 (16.78%) participants in CHARLS cohort and 451 (19.91%) participants in CLHLS cohort who developed hearing loss. The group of using solid fuel for cooking had a higher risk of hearing loss (CHARLS: HR, 1.16; 95% CI 1.03–1.30; CLHLS: HR, 1.43; 95% CI 1.11–1.84) compared with the one of using clean fuel. Pooled hazard ratio showed the incidence of hearing loss in the solid fuel users was 1.17 (1.03, 1.29) times higher than that of clean fuel users. Hearing loss was associated with solid fuel use and older people were at higher risk. It is advised to replace solid fuel by clean fuel that may promote health equity.

Hearing Difficulties Among Farmworkers in the México-US Southwest Border Region.

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are a vulnerable population with a potentially high risk for hearing loss due to farm-related noise exposures. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent, and it is associated with an increased risk for injuries on the job, as well as communication difficulties, isolation, and depression. The México/US border region is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country, however, no known studies have explored hearing loss among farmworkers in this area. This pilot study was a first step toward measuring and addressing hearing loss and noise exposure among this region's farmworkers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of subjective hearing difficulties among Yuma County, Arizona farmworkers. Survey interviews took place during a late-night farmworker health fair from 2am to 6 am to accommodate local farms' labor schedules. Multivariable regression adjusted for demographic and work covariates estimated subjective hearing loss prevalence ratios. Among 132 farmworker participants, 36% reported they have or might have hearing loss, and 62% reported no hearing loss. Subjective hearing loss prevalence was lower in farmworkers who report not working in noise compared to prevalence in farmworkers who work in noise [prevalence ratio, 0.44 (95% CI 0.23-0.82)]. This report contributes to understanding the perception of hearing-related health and occupational exposures among farmworkers in the México-US Southwest border region. The information from this line of research will inform appropriate safety measures known to lower the risk of experiencing occupational NIHL.

Abstract P356: Women’s Reproductive Factors Are Associated With Future Risk of Hearing Loss

Introduction: The association between female reproductive factors and risk of hearing loss (HL) has been unclear. Hypothesis: Women’s reproductive factors have been associated with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are all linked to hearing loss (HL). We thus hypothesized that reproductive factors might be associated with the risk of HL. Methods: We used data from the UK Biobank (UKB). Reproductive factors included number of children, age at the first/last birth, age at menarche, age at natural menopause, and reproductive period. HL was ascertained using the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10) codes H90 (conductive and sensorineural hearing loss) and H91 (other hearing loss). Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between reproductive factors and hospital ascertained HL, considering death as a competitive event. In addition, we combined age at menopause with HRT status to see their joint effect on HL. All models were adjusted for age at baseline, ethnicity, education level, income, Townsend deprivation index, BMI, smoking status, drinking status, physical activities, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and HRT use status. Results: Compared to women who had no child, women who had two, three and four or more children was linked to elevated risk of HL, with HR (95% CI) of 1.14 (1.04-1.25), 1.24 (1.11-1.38), and 1.35 (1.17-1.55), respectively. Compared to women who had first birth before age 25 years, women who had first birth greater than age 26 years had reduced risk of HL (0.84, 0.76-0.93). Women who gave last birth over age 40 years had elevated risk of HL (1.21, 1.01-1.45), compared to those who had last birth before age 35 years. Compared to women who had menopause at age 46-50 years, those who had early menopause less than age 45 years were associated with 24% higher risk of HL (1.24, 1.00-1.54). In addition, women with reproductive period less than 30 years had elevated risk of HL (1.19, 1.07-1.34), compared to women with reproductive period greater than 35 years. Women who had age at menopause greater than 50 years and used HRT had 25%-50% higher risk of HL, compared to their counterpart who did not use HRT. Conclusions: In conclusion, higher number of children, having first birth before age 25 years, having last birth after age 40 years, having menopause before age 45 years, and having reproductive period shorter than 30 years were associated with higher risk of hearing loss. In women with menopause age greater than 50 years, HRT use increased the risk of hearing loss.

A Systematic Review on Hearing and Balance in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease with and Without Hemodialysis.

Exploring the auditory and vestibular manifestations associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been growing in recent years. Understanding these complaints in CKD patients is crucial for comprehensive patient care. This review aimed to investigate the audiological findings and profiles across various stages of CKD and guide for informed decision-making in their management. Relevant articles from PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO Medline, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Clinical Key were identified for review. The selected articles were published from 2008 to 2023 and written in English language. A total of 41 articles on auditory and vestibular assessments in CKD were eligible for review. Pure tone audiometry (PTA), immittance audiometry (IA) and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were the most commonly employed hearing tests respectively, with a higher frequency of utilization in hemodialysis cases compared to non-hemodialysis ones. Also, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) emerged as the most popular vestibular test among hemodialysis patients while questionnaires were frequently employed in CKD patients. Moreover, our analysis suggests a potential association between the duration of hemodialysis and the development of tinnitus and vertigo. Abnormalities were also observed in auditory brainstem response (ABR), speech audiometry, central auditory processing tests and videonystagmography (VNG) assessment in hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis patients. CKD patients, particularly those undergoing hemodialysis, face a higher risk of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular complaints. Performing otoacoustic emissions and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials along with PTA on CKD patients, regardless of the disease stage is recommended to more effective management of audiovestibular complaints in these population.

Increased risk of hearing loss associated with macrolide use: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The increased risk of hearing loss with macrolides remains controversial. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze data on the clinical risk of hearing loss, tinnitus, and ototoxicity following macrolide use. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases from database inception to May 2023. Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and text keywords were utilized, without any language restrictions. In addition to the electronic databases, two authors manually and independently searched for relevant studies in the US and European clinical trial registries and Google Scholar. Studies that involved (1) patients who had hearing loss, tinnitus, or ototoxicity after macrolide use, (2) intervention of use of macrolides such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, fidaxomicin, roxithromycin, spiramycin, and/or telithromycin, (3) comparisons with specified placebos or other antibiotics, (4) outcomes measured as odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR), hazard ratio (HR), and mean difference for ototoxicity symptoms using randomized control trial (RCT)s and observational studies (case–control, cross-section, and cohort studies) were included. Data extraction was performed independently by two extractors, and a crosscheck was performed to identify any errors. ORs along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guidelines for RCTs and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines for observational studies were followed. We assessed the hearing loss risk after macrolide use versus controls (placebos and other antibiotics). Based on data from 13 studies including 1,142,021 patients (n = 267,546 for macrolide and n = 875,089 for controls), the overall pooled OR was 1.25 (95% CI 1.07–1.47). In subgroup analysis by study design, the ORs were 1.37 (95% CI 1.08–1.73) for RCTs and 1.33 (95% CI 1.24–1.43) for case–control studies, indicating that RCT and case–control study designs showed a statistically significant higher risk of hearing loss. The group with underlying diseases such as multiple infectious etiologies (OR, 1.16 [95% CI 0.96–1.41]) had a statistically significant lower risk than the group without (OR, 1.53 [95% CI 1.38–1.70] P = .013). The findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that macrolide antibiotics increase the risk of hearing loss and that healthcare professionals should carefully consider this factor while prescribing macrolides.

Increased prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus and sudden deafness among patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

BackgroundThis study aimed to provide an updated prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and sudden deafness on patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and matched comparison patients.MethodsData for this study were retrieved...

The effect of cisplatin-based chemotherapy on hearing loss (the frequency of >8 kHz) in children with cancer

IntroductionIn this study we investigated the effect of cisplatin-based chemotherapy on hearing loss in children with cancer. Material and methodIn this retrospective study, 20 children aged 6 to 17 years with cancer who were treated with cisplatin and had normal results on initial audiometry test were included. The demographic, clinical, and medical information of all children was extracted and recorded. The hearing thresholds were determined for the frequency of >8 kHz by an audiometrist two weeks after receiving the last course of cisplatin. Finally, all data was analyzed. ResultsIn this study, 20 children with cancer were included of who 9 were girls (45 %) and 11 were boys (55 %). The patients' mean age at the time of diagnosis was 6.65 years. Results showed that children who received cisplatin ≥70 mg/m2 (P.value = 0.09) and ≥ 7 courses of cisplatin (P.value = 0.01), and a cumulative dose higher than 400 mg/m2 (P.value = 0.02) had higher chance of hearing loss. ConclusionAccording to the results it can be concluded that since higher doses caused higher risk of hearing loss and also since lower doses were effective for treatment of the cancer in children therefore to preventing the hearing loss, lower doses of cisplatin are recommended for cancer treatment in children.

Occupational Hearing Loss Associated with the Combined Exposure of Solvents and Noise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To analyze the predominant frequencies of hearing threshold shift and the prevalence of hearing loss related to the co-exposure to noise and solvents. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by retrieving published articles from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and ProQuest until July 2023. Data were extracted in line with the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality were used to assess the studies’ quality. The meta-analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). I2 and Q statistics were used to prove the heterogeneity. A total of 22 selected studies (9948 workers), six cohort studies and 16 cross-sectional studies were included. The results revealed that 43.7%, 41.3%, and 53.6% of the participants presented with hearing loss due to noise exposure, solvent exposure, and combined exposure to noise and solvent, respectively. The workers exposed to both noise and solvents had a higher risk of hearing loss than those exposed to noise (overall weighted odds ratio [OR]: 1.76) or solvents (overall-weighted OR: 2.02) alone. The poorer hearing threshold in the combined noise and solvents exposure group was mainly at high frequencies (3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz), with a peak of 29.47 dB HL at 6 kHz. The noise-exposed group’s peak hearing threshold was 28.87 dB HL at 4 kHz. The peak hearing threshold of the solvent-exposed group was 28.65 dB HL at 6 kHz. The workers exposed to noise and solvent simultaneously had a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those exposed to solvents. Co-exposure to noise and solvents increases the odds of hearing loss. The dominant hearing threshold changes occurred at 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz, and the peak value appeared at 6 kHz in workers co-exposed to noise and solvents.

Predicting Hearing Loss in Testicular Cancer Patients after Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.

Testicular cancer is predominantly curable, but the long-term side effects of chemotherapy have a severe impact on life quality. In this research study, we focus on hearing loss as a part of overall chemotherapy-induced ototoxicity. This is a unique approach where we combine clinical data from the acclaimed nationwide Danish Testicular Cancer (DaTeCa)-Late database. Clinical and genetic data on 433 patients were collected from hospital files in October 2014. Hearing loss was classified according to the FACT/GOG-Ntx-11 version 4 self-reported Ntx6. Machine learning models combining a genome-wide association study within a nested cross-validated logistic regression were applied to identify patients at high risk of hearing loss. The model comprising clinical and genetic data identified 67% of the patients with hearing loss; however, this was with a false discovery rate of 49%. For the non-affected patients, the model identified 66% of the patients with a false omission rate of 19%. An area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC-AUC) curve of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.71-0.74) was obtained, and the model suggests genes SOD2 and MGST3 as important in improving prediction over the clinical-only model with a ROC-AUC of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.65-0.66). Such prediction models may be used to allow earlier detection and prevention of hearing loss. We suggest a possible biological mechanism for cisplatin-induced hearing loss development. On confirmation in larger studies, such models can help balance treatment in clinical practice.

Risk factors for health in medical workers of modern dental practice (literature review)

The analysis of the data of foreign and domestic literature devoted to the main risk factors for health is carried out and presented, the diseases of medical workers of modern dental practice that are more common at present are studied and described. A distinctive feature of the work of practicing dentists is the influence on their body of a complex of unfavourable factors of the production environment of occupational and non-occupational genesis (biological, chemical, physical and factors of the labour process). It is also common for them to be affected by the intensity of the labour process, which is expressed by significant psycho-emotional stress. Dentists are often at high risk of infection and transmission of dangerous pathogens: viruses (herpes, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C, including new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)), bacteria (staphylococcus, tuberculosis), fungi. They have a high prevalence of injuries to the visual organ and upper extremities, allergic reactions. Among dental personnel in countries using amalgam during work, changes in neuropsychiatric reactions, memory loss, and fatigue are described; changes in biochemical parameters of blood, urine analysis are revealed. Physiological and ergonomic loads of dental service specialists and uncomfortable postures associated with work lead to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the appearance of pain, and affect their quality of life. Despite the harmlessness of the noise level in modern dentistry, the sounds produced by devices at work affect the mental health of dentists. Dental professionals with long work experience are predisposed to the highest risk of hearing loss. Today, dentists continue to show carpal tunnel syndrome and rarely vibration disease from exposure to local vibration. Medical workers of modern dental practice are shown to be affected by a complex of unfavourable factors of the low-intensity production environment and develop diseases associated with their occupational activities.

XRT-01. LONG-TERM HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN WITH MEDULLOBLASTOMA AFTER PROTON IRRADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract PURPOSE To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for hearing loss (HL) among children with medulloblastoma treated with proton irradiation and cisplatin. METHODS We identified children with medulloblastoma ≥3 years of age treated at Texas Children’s Hospital between 2007-2022. Audiograms were graded using the International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Boston scale (SIOP-Boston). Time to grade ≥3 HL was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS Seventy-eight patients (65.4% male) were treated with craniospinal irradiation (CSI) at a median age of 7.6 years (range: 3-21). The mean cochlear irradiation dose was 31.5±9 Gy, and the cumulative cisplatin dose was 295±50 mg/m2. Fifty-six patients (72%) received amifostine. Patients completed a median of 9 audiograms (range: 4-22) with a median audiogram follow-up of 49 months (range: 3-177). Grade ≥3 HL was documented in 25 patients (32%). In adjusted Cox models, mean cochlear dose (HR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.18) and the age at CSI (HR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.68-0.98) were associated with grade ≥3 HL. Among children who received irradiation after or at 7 years of age, the estimated probability of grade ≥3 HL at three years post-CSI was 12.6% (95% CI: 4.1-34.6) in children exposed to &amp;lt;36 Gy cochlear irradiation and 35.6% (95% CI: 17.4-63.6) in children exposed to &amp;gt;36 Gy cochlear irradiation. Among children who received irradiation before 7 years of age, the estimated probability of grade ≥3 HL at three years post-CSI was 16.5% (95% CI: 5.6-43) in children exposed to &amp;lt;36 Gy cochlear radiation and 66.7% (95% CI: 35.4-93.7) in children exposed to &amp;gt;36 Gy cochlear irradiation. CONCLUSION Long-term follow-up shows that children who received a cochlear dose ≥36 Gy before 7 years of age are at higher risk for HL, regardless of the amifostine and the cisplatin dose.

Obesity and risk of hearing loss in the middle-aged and elderly: a national cohort of Chinese adults

BackgroundThe relationship between obesity and hearing loss among the middle-aged and older population remained unclear. Moreover, few studies have focused on the impact of gender on this association.MethodsThis cohort study extracted the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a national survey of adults aged 45 years or over. Waist circumference was categorized into three groups: normal, pre-central obesity, and central obesity. We classified BMI into four categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The primary endpoint was the incidence of self-reported hearing loss.ResultsOf the 14,237 participants, 1972 incidents of hearing loss were identified during a median 6.9 years of follow-up. The cumulative incidence of hearing loss was 13.9% (95% CI 13.3% -14.4%). Our study showed that central obesity was significantly associated with hearing loss (HR 0.84, 95%CI 0.75–0.94), and this relationship was more prominent in males (HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.63–0.91). Among male participants, the underweight group was at the highest risk of hearing loss (HR 1.39, 95%CI 1.08–1.79). Compared with the normal weight group, the adjusted HR for hearing loss in the obese groups was 0.69 (95%CI 0.51–0.94) among men. Among female participants, only the overweight group had a lower risk of hearing loss than the normal weight group (HR 0.83, 95%CI 0.71–0.96).ConclusionsBeing overweight and obese were significantly associated with a decreased risk of hearing loss, whereas being underweight was associated with an increased risk of hearing loss.

Association of nocturnal sleep duration and midday napping with subjective poor hearing among middle-aged and older adults in China.

Hearing loss has occurred as a critical concern for aging and health. However, it remains unknown whether nocturnal sleep and midday napping duration are associated with hearing loss in middle-aged and older adults. The study comprised 9,573 adults from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, who have completed the survey for sleep characteristics and subjective functional hearing. We collected self-reported nocturnal sleep duration (<5, 5 to <6, 6 to <7, 7 to <9, ≥9 h/night) and midday napping duration (≤5, 5 to ≤30, and >30 min). The sleep information was classified into different sleep patterns. The primary outcome was self-reported hearing loss events. Multivariate Cox regression models and restricted cubic splines were used to investigate the longitudinal association of sleep characteristics with hearing loss. We applied Cox generalized additive models and bivariate exposure-response surface diagrams to visualize the effects of different sleep patterns on hearing loss. We confirmed 1,073 cases of hearing loss (55.1% female) during the follow-up. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and health condition, nocturnal sleep with < 5 h was positively associated with hearing loss [hazard ratio (HR): 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20, 1.75]. Individuals with napping for 5 to ≤30 min had a 20% (HR: 0.80, 95%CI: 0.63, 1.00) lower risk of hearing loss compared with those with napping ≤ 5 min. Restrictive cubic splines showed the reverse J-shaped association between nocturnal sleep and hearing loss. Moreover, we found significant joint effects of sleeping < 7 h/night and midday napping ≤ 5 min (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.52) on hearing loss. Bivariate exposure-response surface diagrams also reflected the finding that short sleep without napping existed the highest risk of hearing loss. Compared with persistently sleeping moderately (7-9 h/night), those who persistently slept < 7 h/night or shifted from < 7 h/night to moderate or > 9 h/night had higher risks of hearing loss. Inadequate nocturnal sleep was associated with an elevated risk of poor subjective hearing in middle-aged and older adults, while moderate napping decreased the risk of hearing loss. Keeping sleep stable within recommendation duration may be a useful strategy for preventing poor hearing loss.

Duration and Quality of Sleep and Risk of Self-reported Hearing Loss: The UK Biobank Study.

The duration and quality of sleep have been associated with multiple health conditions in adults. However, whether sleep duration and quality are associated with hearing loss (HL) is uncertain. The present study investigates the prospective association between duration and quality of sleep and HL. This longitudinal analysis included 231,650 participants aged 38 to 72 years from the UK Biobank cohort, established in 2006-2010 in the United Kingdom. Duration and sleep complaints (snoring at night, daytime sleepiness, sleeplessness, difficulty getting up in the morning, and eveningness preference) were self-reported. HL was self-reported at baseline and during the follow-up. Over a median follow-up of 4.19 (SD: 2.15) years, 6436 participants reported incident HL. In fully adjusted models, in comparison with sleeping between 7 and 8 hours a day, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) associated with sleeping <7 hours a day was 1.01 (0.95 to 1.07), and for sleeping >8 hours a day was 0.98 (0.88 to 1.08). After adjustment for potential confounders, the HRs (95% confidence interval) of HL associated with having 1, 2, 3, and 4 to 5 vs. 0 sleep complaints were: 1.15 (1.05 to 1.27), 1.16 (1.05 to 1.28), 1.32 (1.19 to 1.47), and 1.49 (1.31 to 1.69), respectively; p for trend: <0.001. An increase in the number of sleep complaints was associated with higher risk of HL among participants with non-optimal sleep duration than among participants with optimal sleep duration. In this large population-based study, poor sleep quality was associated with an increased risk of HL; however, sleep duration was not associated with risk.

Association between in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and hearing loss: risk factors for hearing loss among twin infants in a cohort study.

IVF-ET conception and premature birth were associated with a higher risk of hearing impairment. Twin infants conceived by IVF-ET tended to fail in hearing screening and be diagnosed with hearing loss. These observations provide a more comprehensive approach for the prevention and management of deafness in twin-born children. • IVF-ET technologies conferred a higher risk of birth defects. • Premature birth and IVF-ET conception were associated with a higher risk of hearing loss among twin infants. • Twin infants conceived by IVF-ET tended to fail in hearing screening and diagnosed with hearing loss.

New classification and approaches to the treatment of schwannomatosis

Schwannomatoses is a new classification unit for all the hereditary diseases caused by chromosome 22 damage followed by multiple benign neoplasms of the peripheral and central nervous system. Schwannomatosis occurs as a result of damage to different genes: NF2, SMARCB1, LZRT1, loss of heterozygosity of the long arm of chromosome 22. Nevertheless, clinical manifestations are similar. Molecular diagnostics not only confirms the diagnosis, but also predicts the course of disease. Thus, the most severe clinical manifestations are observed in patients with violation of semantic sequences and reading frame shift in exons 2-13 of the NF2 gene. A more favorable course with less number of tumors is observed in patients with somatic mosaicism. Stereotactic irradiation and surgery are the main treatment options for schwannomatosis. However, there is evidence of effective targeted therapy with bevacizumab (inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor). Bevacizumab is used in patients with bilateral vestibular schwannomas and high risk of hearing loss, as well as for intramedullary tumor growth control.