Diabetes and long duration leading to speech-, low/mid-, and high- frequency hearing loss: current evidence from the China National Health Survey 2023

Abstract Purpose To examine the effect of diabetes, duration of diabetes, and blood glucose on speech-, low/mid-, and high-frequency hearing loss. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 2821 participants aged 20–87 years in the China National Health Survey were included. Diabetes was defined as valid fasting blood glucose (FBG) of ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, a self-reported history of diabetes or the use of anti-diabetic medications. Speech-(500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz), low/mid- (500, 1000 and 2000 Hz), and high-frequency (4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz) hearing loss was defined as pure tone average of responding frequencies > 20 dB HL in the better ear, respectively. Results In fully adjusted models, for speech-, low/mid-, and high-frequency hearing loss, compared with no diabetes, those with diabetes (OR95%CI: 1.44 1.12, 1.86, 1.23 0.94, 1.61, and 1.75 1.28, 2.41, respectively) and with diabetes for > 5 years duration (OR95%CI: 1.63 1.09, 2.42, and 1.63 1.12, 2.36, 2.15 1.25, 3.70, respectively) were at higher risk. High FBG level was associated with a higher risk of speech-, low/ mid-, and high-frequency hearing loss. And there were stronger associations between HL and diabetes, longer duration and higher in “healthier population” (no hypertension, no dyslipidemia and younger age). Conclusion Diabetes, longer duration, and higher FBG level were independently associated with hearing loss for speech-, low/mid- and high-frequency hearing loss, particularly in higher frequency and “healthier population”. Paying more attention to hearing loss in those populations could lower the burden of hearing loss.