Hearing loss increases risk of death

Hearing impairment, even if mild, seems to be associated with an increased mortality risk, according to researchers who studied 1666 people aged 70 years and over who had undergone audiometric testing. Similar proportions of these people had no hearing impairment, mild loss, and moderate or more severe impairment. Compared with individuals without hearing impairment, mortality was 54% higher among people with moderate or more severe hearing loss after adjusting for age.

Age-adjusted mortality was 27% higher among those with mild hearing impairment. After adjustments for demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors, mortality was 39% and 21% higher among those with moderate or more severe, and mild hearing impairment respectively. Impaired cognitive, mental and physical function associated with hearing impairment may account for the association,
the authors speculate.