A composite risk score to identify older adults at high risk of hearing loss in a community screening program.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Age-related hearing loss (HL) is highly prevalent among older adults, yet it often goes undetected and untreated. Routine screening in community settings is not widespread, and hearing aid uptake remains very low. We aimed to construct a composite risk score to identify individuals at high risk of HL for targeted audiometric screening.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from a community-based health screening program in Shenzhen, China. Participants underwent pure-tone audiometry at 500-8000 Hz to determine hearing thresholds. Moderate or greater HL was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) ≥ 35dB in the better ear. Stepwise multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of HL, which were then used to develop a cumulative Hearing Risk

SUBMITTER: Li JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12312306 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature