Abstract
Objective: Age related hearing loss (ARHL) or presbyacusis is a complex condition caused by an interaction between environmental and genetic factors and is the most prevalent sensory impairment in the elderly. To date, only few environmental/lifestyle risk factors have been found. Research into risk factors underlying ARHL is increasingly urgent as populations grow older. Here, we investigate the relationship between ARHL and educational/occupational factors in a large cohort of people from isolated villages in Italy, Crimea region, Caucasus and Central Asia. Methods: Two thousand and sixty-eight people (aged 40-95 years) were recruited and analysed. Education was classified at five levels: no education, elementary, secondary, high school and university. Cases and controls were defined after a detailed evaluation of the hearing phenotype. Data were analysed using a mixed-effects logistic regression. Results: A statistically significant association between ARHL and education was detected. People with no education showed a higher association with the condition than people with a higher education (p <0.001). Explanations could be many, including individual jobs. A strong correlation (φ > 0.45) between occupation and level of education was also found. Conclusion: Present findings provide a better knowledge of environment/lifestyle factors related to ARHL and might help in defining new preventive strategies for aging people.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 94-98 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Hearing, Balance and Communication |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
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Keywords
- Age related hearing loss
- Epidemiology study
- Isolated population
- Level of education
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Speech and Hearing
- Otorhinolaryngology
Cite this
Age related hearing loss and level of education : An epidemiological study on a large cohort of isolated populations. / Vuckovic, Dragana; Biino, Ginevra; Panu, Francesco; Pirastu, Mario; Gasparini, Paolo; Girotto, Giorgia.
In: Hearing, Balance and Communication, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2014, p. 94-98.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Age related hearing loss and level of education
T2 - An epidemiological study on a large cohort of isolated populations
AU - Vuckovic, Dragana
AU - Biino, Ginevra
AU - Panu, Francesco
AU - Pirastu, Mario
AU - Gasparini, Paolo
AU - Girotto, Giorgia
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objective: Age related hearing loss (ARHL) or presbyacusis is a complex condition caused by an interaction between environmental and genetic factors and is the most prevalent sensory impairment in the elderly. To date, only few environmental/lifestyle risk factors have been found. Research into risk factors underlying ARHL is increasingly urgent as populations grow older. Here, we investigate the relationship between ARHL and educational/occupational factors in a large cohort of people from isolated villages in Italy, Crimea region, Caucasus and Central Asia. Methods: Two thousand and sixty-eight people (aged 40-95 years) were recruited and analysed. Education was classified at five levels: no education, elementary, secondary, high school and university. Cases and controls were defined after a detailed evaluation of the hearing phenotype. Data were analysed using a mixed-effects logistic regression. Results: A statistically significant association between ARHL and education was detected. People with no education showed a higher association with the condition than people with a higher education (p <0.001). Explanations could be many, including individual jobs. A strong correlation (φ > 0.45) between occupation and level of education was also found. Conclusion: Present findings provide a better knowledge of environment/lifestyle factors related to ARHL and might help in defining new preventive strategies for aging people.
AB - Objective: Age related hearing loss (ARHL) or presbyacusis is a complex condition caused by an interaction between environmental and genetic factors and is the most prevalent sensory impairment in the elderly. To date, only few environmental/lifestyle risk factors have been found. Research into risk factors underlying ARHL is increasingly urgent as populations grow older. Here, we investigate the relationship between ARHL and educational/occupational factors in a large cohort of people from isolated villages in Italy, Crimea region, Caucasus and Central Asia. Methods: Two thousand and sixty-eight people (aged 40-95 years) were recruited and analysed. Education was classified at five levels: no education, elementary, secondary, high school and university. Cases and controls were defined after a detailed evaluation of the hearing phenotype. Data were analysed using a mixed-effects logistic regression. Results: A statistically significant association between ARHL and education was detected. People with no education showed a higher association with the condition than people with a higher education (p <0.001). Explanations could be many, including individual jobs. A strong correlation (φ > 0.45) between occupation and level of education was also found. Conclusion: Present findings provide a better knowledge of environment/lifestyle factors related to ARHL and might help in defining new preventive strategies for aging people.
KW - Age related hearing loss
KW - Epidemiology study
KW - Isolated population
KW - Level of education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84900828950&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84900828950&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3109/21695717.2014.911472
DO - 10.3109/21695717.2014.911472
M3 - Article
VL - 12
SP - 94
EP - 98
JO - Hearing, Balance and Communication
JF - Hearing, Balance and Communication
SN - 2169-5717
IS - 2
ER -