Associations Between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Audiometric Hearing: Findings From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

This was an observational study, so it can show associations but cannot prove that cardiovascular risk factors cause hearing loss or that treating them will change hearing. Noise exposure and occupational history were not adjusted for, and both can affect cardiovascular disease and hearing. The main results used 21,492 participants with complete data; those with missing data were older, had lower socioeconomic status, and had worse baseline hearing, so the analysed group may not represent people most at risk. The CLSA excluded people in institutions, northern territories, First Nations settlements, full-time Canadian Armed Forces members, people with perceived cognitive impairment, and people unable to respond in English or French, and the overall response rate was 10%. The cohort was relatively privileged and 94% identified as white, so findings may not apply to populations with different risk profiles or less access to care. Follow-up was only about 3 years, and the study did not know how long participants had had each risk factor or how their risk changed over time. Hearing was measured with screening audiometry in quiet rooms but not soundproof booths, and some participants with non-removable devices were not tested.

The study received a University of Saskatchewan CoMRAD grant and an educational grant from Sonova AG for independent medical research. The funding agreement said Sonova had no right to censor or prevent publication. The authors declared no conflicts.

Do not conclude that treating cardiovascular risk factors will prevent or slow hearing loss. This was an observational association study, it did not test treatment, and the authors state the design does not support causal interpretation.