The Relationship Between Multimorbidity Burden and Hearing Loss Severity in Chinese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Author(s)
Yingjie Wang, Master1, PEIXUAN CHEN, Master2, Shuli Zhang, Master3, Chuanlin Zhang, Master2, Linwei Liu, Master2, Yulun Luo, Master2, Xutong Huang, Master2, Liu Yuhang, Master4, Guanglian Luo, Master2, Qiushi Ren, Master2, Qiu Zhang, PhD4.
1School of Pharmaceutical Business Administration, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China, 2Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China, 3School of Health Sciences, Guangdong Vocational University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China, 4Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China, China.
1School of Pharmaceutical Business Administration, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China, 2Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China, 3School of Health Sciences, Guangdong Vocational University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China, 4Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China, China.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between multimorbidity burden and hearing loss severity in older adults aged ≥65 years.
METHODS: Data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between the number of chronic diseases (0, 1, 2, ≥3) and hearing loss severity (no loss, mild, severe), adjusting for 11 sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status covariates.
RESULTS: Among 5120 participants, 38.77% had hearing loss (6.56% mild, 32.21% severe). Mild hearing loss increased monotonically with disease count (4.95% in 0-disease group vs. 8.94% in ≥3-disease group, p<0.001), while severe loss showed a U-shaped pattern (35.17% in 0-disease group, 31.76% in ≥3-disease group). After adjustment, ≥3 chronic diseases were associated with a 56.4% higher risk of mild loss (OR=0.436, 95% CI: 0.310-0.615) and 43.1% higher risk of severe loss (OR=0.569, CI:0.460-0.703) compared to no diseases. Urban residents had a 74.1% higher risk of mild loss and 42.6% higher risk of severe loss than rural counterparts.
CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbidity and urban residence are independent risk factors for hearing loss in older adults. Integrated chronic disease management and urban noise control strategies are recommended to mitigate auditory health disparities.
METHODS: Data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between the number of chronic diseases (0, 1, 2, ≥3) and hearing loss severity (no loss, mild, severe), adjusting for 11 sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status covariates.
RESULTS: Among 5120 participants, 38.77% had hearing loss (6.56% mild, 32.21% severe). Mild hearing loss increased monotonically with disease count (4.95% in 0-disease group vs. 8.94% in ≥3-disease group, p<0.001), while severe loss showed a U-shaped pattern (35.17% in 0-disease group, 31.76% in ≥3-disease group). After adjustment, ≥3 chronic diseases were associated with a 56.4% higher risk of mild loss (OR=0.436, 95% CI: 0.310-0.615) and 43.1% higher risk of severe loss (OR=0.569, CI:0.460-0.703) compared to no diseases. Urban residents had a 74.1% higher risk of mild loss and 42.6% higher risk of severe loss than rural counterparts.
CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbidity and urban residence are independent risk factors for hearing loss in older adults. Integrated chronic disease management and urban noise control strategies are recommended to mitigate auditory health disparities.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH252
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Disease Classification & Coding, Public Health, Safety & Pharmacoepidemiology
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Geriatrics, Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)