The Relationship Between Reduced Glomerular Filtration Rate and Hearing Impairment: A Study Based on Western and Eastern Population

Objectives: To explore potential strategies for the early detection of renal function impairment, we investigated the association between renal function impairment and hearing loss, as early-stage renal impairment often presents with few clinical manifestations, making it challenging to detect. Methods: We included data including western and eastern population for 3154 participants from the NHANES database in 2009–12 and 2015–18, and for 5958 participants in the Beijing Tongren hospital between January 2019 and January 2023, with a median follow-up of 30.0 months. Then, we comprehensively evaluated the relationship between renal function and hearing impairment, using linear regression, Logistics regression, Cox regression, and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: People with reduced eGFR were more likely to show speech-frequency hearing loss than those with normal eGFR (HR 1.54; 95% CI 1.20–1.97; p < 0.001). People with speech-frequency hearing loss were more likely to have reduced eGFR (HR 1.49; 1.18–1.89; p < 0.001). Hearing acuity in women with reduced eGFR may improve with the amelioration of renal function (OR 1.10; 1.01–1.20; p = 0.037). Conclusions: Renal function examinations may be considered in people with self-perceived or tested hearing loss to detect potential early renal injury. People with reduced eGFR should also place attention on hearing protection, given the observed association. Whether a causal relationship exists between hearing function and eGFR remains to be elucidated through further in-depth studies.