Hearing loss is associated with increased cardiovascular disease rsk: propensity score matching study from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

Background The global burden of hearing loss and cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to escalate, especially for individuals aged ≥50 years in China. The association between hearing loss and CVD remains inconclusive. Methods This study analyzed data from 14,590 participants (aged ≥45 years) in the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Self-reported hearing loss was assessed as the primary exposure. Propensity score matching adjusted for age, gender, residence, education, and marital status. Results Significant differences were observed between the hearing loss group and the non-hearing loss group in terms of age, residential status, education level, marital status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, stroke, CVD, and body mass index (all P < 0.05). After propensity score matching and adjusting for potential confounders, hearing loss was significantly associated with CVD (OR = 2.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.73-3.09, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.04-1.61, P = 0.022), diabetes (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.19-2.50, P = 0.004), dyslipidemia (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.11-2.00, P = 0.008), and obesity (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.03-2.07, P = 0.004). Finally, the study identified that advanced age (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.26-2.14, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.81-3.11, P < 0.001), dyslipidemia (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.71-3.25, P < 0.001), and diabetes (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.12-2.45, P = 0.011) significantly increased the risk of CVD among individuals with hearing loss. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant positive correlation between hearing loss and CVD among middle-aged and elderly populations in China.