Prevalence and associated factors of hearing loss in Iranian older adults: a cross- sectional study of Amirkola Health and Ageing Project

Hearing loss was associated with age or presbycusis is the most common cause of hearing loss and has adverse effects on the quality of life, communication and social functioning of the older adults. So, the present study was conducted to investigate hearing loss and its associated factors in the older adults of Amirkola city. This cross-sectional study is part of the third phase of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Cohort Project (AHAP), which was conducted in 2023–2024 on all people aged 60 years and older. The data collection tool included a demographic profile questionnaire and history of some chronic diseases. The data about hearing loss is self-reported and by asking the older adults, “Have you ever felt that you have hearing loss?” was obtained. Some chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension were diagnosed based on examinations and standard tests. After entering the SPSS22 software, the data were statistically analyzed using t-test, chi-square and multiple logistic regression. Among 1878 older adults studied, 834(50.2%) were men and 827 (49.8%) were women. Out of the total older adults studied, 755 (45.5%) had hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss in men was 55.3% and in women was 44.7% (P < 0.001). Hearing loss was also significantly higher among participants in the older age group (P < 0.0001), illiteracy (P < 0.002), unemployment (P = 0.002), those with more chronic diseases (P < 0.001), having multiple medications (P = 0.002), and those with lower body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.001). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, factors contributing to hearing loss in the older adults were age over 85 years and female gender, (P = 0.018), BMI (P = 0.020), inability to perform activities daily living (ADL) (P = 0.046) and number of chronic diseases P < 0.001). This study showed that hearing loss is highly prevalent in older adults in the city of Amirkola. Based on the finding of this study, it seems that an interdisciplinary and joint approach to the field of hearing loss screening and identification at the first level of health care services and referring patients to the second level is essential for the timely treatment of hearing loss.