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Age and sex differences in hearing loss association with depressive symptoms: analyses of NHANES 2011–2012

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2018

Franco Scinicariello ,
Jennifer Przybyla ,
Yulia Carroll ,
John Eichwald ,
John Decker  and
Patrick N. Breysse
Franco Scinicariello*
Affiliation:
Division for Toxicology and Human Health Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, USA
Jennifer Przybyla
Affiliation:
Division for Toxicology and Human Health Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, USA
Yulia Carroll
Affiliation:
Office of Science, National Center for Environment Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
John Eichwald
Affiliation:
Office of Science, National Center for Environment Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
John Decker
Affiliation:
Office of Science, National Center for Environment Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
Patrick N. Breysse
Affiliation:
Office of the Director, National Center for Environment Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Franco Scinicariello, E-mail: fes6@cdc.gov
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Abstract

Background

Depression is a common and significant health problem. Hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition in the USA and might be a factor in depression. To determine whether hearing loss is associated with depressive symptoms in US adults ages 20–69 years.

Methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2011–2012) were used to assess the potential relationship between hearing loss and depression, in adults (20–69 years) who answered the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression screening module, with pure tone audiometry measurements, and complete information on the co-variates data (n = 3316). The degree of speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL) and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) were defined as slight/mild hearing loss ⩾26–40 dB; moderate/worse hearing loss ⩾41 dB by pure tone audiometry examination.

Results

Moderate/worse HFHL was statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR 1.54, 95% CL 1.04–2.27) when the analyses were conducted among all participants. Further stratification by gender and age groups found that moderate/worse HFHL (OR 3.85, 95% CL 1.39–10.65) and moderate/worse SFHL (OR 5.75, 95% CL 1.46–22.71) were associated with depressive symptoms in women ages 52–69 years.

Conclusions

Moderate/worse speech frequency and HFHL are associated with depression in women ages 52–69 years, independent of other risk factors. Hearing screenings are likely to reduce delays in diagnosis and provide early opportunities for noise prevention counseling and access to hearing aids. Health professionals should be aware of depressive signs and symptoms in patients with hearing loss.

Keywords

Depressionhearing lossNHANESPHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnairesex
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 49 , Issue 6 , April 2019 , pp. 962 - 968
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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