OBJECTIVE: To determine if moderate alcohol consumption is associated inversely with hearing loss in a large population based study of older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population based cohort study. Data are from the 1993-1995 examinations for the population based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (EHLS) (n = 3571) and the Beaver Dam Eye Study (BDES) (n = 3722). SETTING: Midwestern community of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of Beaver Dam aged 43 to 84 in 1987-1988 were eligible for the BDES (examinations in 1988-1990 and 1993-1995). During 1993-1995, this same cohort was eligible to participate in the baseline examination for the EHLS. MEASUREMENTS: Hearing thresholds were measured by pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry (250-8000 Hz.). History of alcohol consumption in the past year, heavy drinking (ever), medical history, occupation, noise exposure, and other lifestyle factors were ascertained by a questionnaire that was administered as an interview. RESULTS: In multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounders, moderate alcohol consumption (>140 grams/week) was inversely associated with hearing loss (PTA(.5,1,2,4 > 25 dB HL); odds ratio [OR] = .71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .52, .97; where PTA is pure tone average). A similar association was found for moderate hearing loss (PTA(.5,1,2,4 > 40 dB HL); OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.32, 0.74). Alcohol consumption was associated inversely with the odds of having a low frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.61) or a high frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.60). These findings did not vary significantly by age or gender. There was an increase in the odds of having a high frequency hearing loss (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.75), in those with a history of heavy drinking (> or =4 drinks/day). Including cardiovascular disease or its related factors did not significantly attenuate the protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of a modest protective association of alcohol consumption and hearing loss in these cross-sectional data. This finding is in agreement with a small body of evidence suggesting that hearing loss is not an inevitable component of the aging process.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if moderate alcohol consumption is associated inversely with hearing loss in a large population based study of older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population based cohort study. Data are from the 1993-1995 examinations for the population based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (EHLS) (n = 3571) and the Beaver Dam Eye Study (BDES) (n = 3722). SETTING: Midwestern community of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. PARTICIPANTS: Residents of Beaver Dam aged 43 to 84 in 1987-1988 were eligible for the BDES (examinations in 1988-1990 and 1993-1995). During 1993-1995, this same cohort was eligible to participate in the baseline examination for the EHLS. MEASUREMENTS: Hearing thresholds were measured by pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry (250-8000 Hz.). History of alcohol consumption in the past year, heavy drinking (ever), medical history, occupation, noise exposure, and other lifestyle factors were ascertained by a questionnaire that was administered as an interview. RESULTS: In multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounders, moderate alcohol consumption (>140 grams/week) was inversely associated with hearing loss (PTA(.5,1,2,4 > 25 dB HL); odds ratio [OR] = .71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .52, .97; where PTA is pure tone average). A similar association was found for moderate hearing loss (PTA(.5,1,2,4 > 40 dB HL); OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.32, 0.74). Alcohol consumption was associated inversely with the odds of having a low frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.61) or a high frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.60). These findings did not vary significantly by age or gender. There was an increase in the odds of having a high frequency hearing loss (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.75), in those with a history of heavy drinking (> or =4 drinks/day). Including cardiovascular disease or its related factors did not significantly attenuate the protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of a modest protective association of alcohol consumption and hearing loss in these cross-sectional data. This finding is in agreement with a small body of evidence suggesting that hearing loss is not an inevitable component of the aging process.
Authors: Dayna S Dalton; Carla R Schubert; Alex Pinto; Mary E Fischer; Guan-Hua Huang; Barbara E K Klein; Ronald Klein; James S Pankow; Adam J Paulsen; Michael Y Tsai; Ted S Tweed; Karen J Cruickshanks Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2019-08-19 Impact factor: 3.325
Authors: Elizabeth P Helzner; Jane A Cauley; Sheila R Pratt; Steven R Wisniewski; Evelyn O Talbott; Joseph M Zmuda; Tamara B Harris; Susan M Rubin; Dennis R Taaffe; Frances A Tylavsky; Anne B Newman Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2005-05-10 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: Mary E Fischer; Carla R Schubert; David M Nondahl; Dayna S Dalton; Guan-Hua Huang; Brendan J Keating; Barbara E K Klein; Ronald Klein; Ted S Tweed; Karen J Cruickshanks Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2014-12-20 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: David M Nondahl; Xiaoyu Shi; Karen J Cruickshanks; Dayna S Dalton; Ted S Tweed; Terry L Wiley; Lakeesha L Carmichael Journal: Ear Hear Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 3.570
Authors: Karen J Cruickshanks; David M Nondahl; Ted S Tweed; Terry L Wiley; Barbara E K Klein; Ronald Klein; Rick Chappell; Dayna S Dalton; Scott D Nash Journal: Hear Res Date: 2009-10-22 Impact factor: 3.208
Authors: Scott D Nash; Karen J Cruickshanks; Weihai Zhan; Michael Y Tsai; Ronald Klein; Rick Chappell; F Javier Nieto; Barbara E K Klein; Carla R Schubert; Dayna S Dalton; Theodore S Tweed Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2013-06-05 Impact factor: 6.053