Prevalence of self-reported hearing loss and associated risk factors among the elderly in Manaus: a population-based study

ABSTRACT:

Purpose:

to estimate the incidence of self-reported hearing loss and identify associated risk factors among the elderly in Manaus.

Methods:

it was performed a population-based cross-sectional study on 646 subjects aged 60 years and over, interviewed in 2013. The sample was obtained with the cross-sectional design, with cluster sampling, two stages of selection and self-weighted. Data were analyzed by χ2 test and Poisson regression.

Results:

hearing loss prevalence was 25.7%. The factors that remained significantly associated after multivariate model were: living alone (PR=1.34), IADL dependency (PR=1.61), labyrinthitis (PR=1.33), Parkinson's disease (PR=2.02), difficulty of understanding (PR=1.69), visual impairment (PR=1.94), and communication difficulties (PR=1.34). Impacts on communication showed that hearing loss was 68% higher among in individuals with speech difficulties compared to those who did not report such difficulty, reinforcing the limitation that hearing loss can bring to communication.

Conclusion:

the prevalence of hearing loss among older people points to the necessity of know the magnitude of this deficit for public health, and contribute to the construction of identification strategies for these losses, making possible minimize thus effects in this group.

KEYWORDS:
Hearing Loss; Prevalence; Aged; Health of the Elderly; Estimation Techniques; Questionnaires