Hoveyzeh Ear Cohort Study in Southwest Iran: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: The increasing trend of hearing loss is an important public health concern that needs coordinated and well-designed measures at the regional, global, and local levels. We determined the audiological profile of a province in Iran with unique socioeconomic, ethnic, and geographical characteristics and investigated the risk factors associated with hearing loss. Methods: A total number of 1845 participants (35–70 years old) were recruited in the current prospective study. Pure tone audiometry and tympanometry tests were conducted to determine the type and severity of hearing loss in adults living in southwest Iran (Arab ethnicity). The hearing loss prevalence in individuals with a history of head trauma, cardiovascular disease, noise exposure, diabetes, and smoking status was compared with that of disease-free participants. Results: The hearing loss prevalence was 51.3% (947/1845), which was significantly correlated with sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, marital status, educational level, skill levels, wealth status, Townsend deprivation index, and smoking habit (p<0.001). The hearing loss prevalence showed a significant association with a history of diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, smoking habits, head trauma, and noise exposure (p<0.05). Nonetheless, the prevalence of hearing loss and the type of residency, and the wealth index were not significantly associated. Conclusion: Hearing loss causes the burden of chronic disability in southwest of Iran. Several socioeconomic, demographic, and medical parameters influence the consequences of hearing loss. Keywords: Hearing loss; cohort study; Iran