The Hearing Function and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Older Adults

Objective. To examine the association between hearing function, assessed with pure-tone average (PTA) of air conduction thresholds, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in older adults. Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. A total of 1404 community-dwelling individuals aged >= 65 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort were examined. Methods. Hearing loss was defined as PTA > 40-AudCalhearing loss decibels (dB-aHL) in the better ear for standard frequency (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz), speech frequency (0.5, 1, 2, and4 kHz), and high frequency (3, 4, and 8 kHz). Circadian BP patterns were calculated as the percentage decline in systolicBP during the night, and participants were classified as dipper, nondipper, and riser. Ambulatory hypertension was defined as BP >= 130/80 mm Hg (24 hour),>= 135/85 (daytime), and >= 120/70 (nighttime) or on antihypertensive treatment. Analyses were performed with linear- and logistic-regression models adjusted for the main confounders. Results. In multivariable analyses, the PTA was associated with higher nighttime systolic BP [beta coefficient per 20 dB-aHL increment standard frequency (95% confidence interval, CI):2.41 mm Hg (0.87, 3.95);beta(95% CI) per 20 dB-aHLincrement speech frequency 2.17 mm Hg (0.70, 3.64)].Among hypertensive patients, hearing loss at standard andhigh-frequency PTA was associated with the riser BP pattern[odds ratio: 2.01 (95% CI, 1.03-3.93) and 1.45 (1.00-2.09),respectively]; also, hearing loss at standard PTA was linked touncontrolled nighttime BP [1.81 (1.01-3.24)]. Conclusion. PTA was associated with higher nighttime BP, and hearing loss with a riser BP pattern and uncontrolled BP in older hypertensives.