The association between serum estradiol level and hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women is associated with serum estradiol level or bone mineral density. METHODS: Serum estradiol level, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and hearing sensitivity were measured in 1830 postmenopausal women. Serum estradiol level was measured by radioimmunoassay, and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck. Hearing sensitivity was evaluated by pure tone audiometry. Age, serum estradiol level, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and the proportion of women on hormone replacement therapy were analyzed in women with and without hearing loss. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, significant differences were found in mean age, serum estradiol level, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and the proportion of women on hormone replacement therapy between the two groups (mean +/- standard deviation, 59.4 +/- 5.6 versus 56.9 +/- 4.7 years, P <.001; 8.4 +/- 3.8 versus. 9.9 +/- 8.7 pg/mL, P <.001; 0.85 +/- 0.14 versus 0.88 +/- 0.15 g/cm(2), P <.01; 0.65 +/- 0.10 versus 0.68 +/- 0.10 g/cm(2), P <.005; 0.006% versus 0.03%, P <.05, respectively). On multiple logistic regression analysis, significant association was found between age and hearing loss and between serum estradiol level and hearing loss (P <.001, P =.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a lower level of serum estradiol possibly impedes hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women.