Association between smoking and hearing status: a comparative study between smokers and non – smokers

Background: Smoking, age, gender, socioeconomic class and education may contribute to the hearing loss. In this study hearing loss between smokers (current and ex) and non smokers was compared. Materials and Methods: 145 smokers [79 current (68 males, 11 females) and 66 ex smokers (60 males, 6 females)] and 145 non smokers (69 males, 76 females) were studied. Modified Kuppuswamy scale and smoking index were used. Hearing loss was assessed by Audiometry. P value of<0.05(unpaired t test and chi square test) was taken as statistically significant. Result: Statistically significant and non significant differences were found between the mean age and educational status of current -ex smokers and smokers-non smokers respectively. Statistically significant and non significant differences were found between the socioeconomic status of smokers-non smokers and current -ex smokers respectively. Difference was significant between smoking index of current and ex smokers (p=0.003). 70.05% males had hearing loss as compared to females (49.46%). About 59.24% and 26.09% hearing loss cases belonged to low education and upper and upper middle social class respectively. 68% and 24.24% of moderate and severe smoking index were of professional to graduate educational status. 36.17% and 30.30% of moderate to severe smoking index belonged to upper and upper middle socioeconomic class. 73.91% were from low social classes. 47.59% non smokers and 25.51% smokers had no hearing loss. The severity of hearing loss was more in heavy smokers. Conclusion: Hearing loss associated with smoking was found to be more in male gender, advancing age, low socioeconomic and educational classes.