Abstract
We aimed to investigate the associations between self-reported hearing loss and outdoor activity limitations, psychological distress, and memory loss among elderly people. We conducted a cross-sectional study using the data from a nationally-representative questionnaire survey (2016 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan). The study population included people aged ≥65 years living at home, without clinically diagnosed dementia. The exposure of interest was self-reported hearing loss (Yes/No), whereas outcomes included outdoor activity limitations (Yes/No), psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K6] score of ≥5), and self-reported memory loss (Yes/No). We conducted logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol, educational status, number of household members, average household expenditure in a month, and chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, coronary artery disease, and cancer). Among 137,723 elderly people (mean age 74.5 [standard deviation 7.4], 45.1% men), 12,389 (9.0%) reported hearing loss. People with hearing loss showed a higher prevalence of outdoor activity limitation (28.9% vs. 9.5%), psychological distress (39.7% vs. 19.3%), and memory loss (37.7% vs. 5.2%) than those without. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) comparing people with and without hearing loss were 2.20 (2.09–2.31), 2.24 (2.15–2.34), and 7.53 (7.17–7.90) for outdoor activity limitations, psychological distress, and memory loss. In conclusion, this nationwide study suggested that elderly people with hearing loss were more likely to experience outdoor activity limitations, psychological distress, and memory loss than those without. Early identification of and intervention in hearing loss may potentially reduce the risk of these poor health outcomes.