Association between low muscle mass and hearing impairment in older adults: results from a national cross-sectional study

Hearing impairment is a prevalent and debilitating condition with limited established modifiable risk factors. The specific association between muscle mass, as a modifiable component, and hearing impairment remains underexplored. Data from 13,532 participants in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were included in the analysis. A body composition estimation formula was employed to estimate muscle mass. Hearing status was evaluated by trained interviewers. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was used to examine a non-linear association between muscle mass and hearing impairment. In the fully adjusted model, participants without low muscle mass (LMM) had a significantly reduced likelihood of hearing impairment (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.45–0.67, P < 0.001), using individuals with LMM as the reference group. This association remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. RCS regression indicated a generally linear inverse relationship between muscle mass and the likelihood of hearing impairment. This study found that LMM is associated with hearing impairment in older adults, demonstrating a consistent pattern across both sexes. Improving muscle mass may be associated with hearing health. Subsequent research can develop targeted interventions and validate their effectiveness.