Is sleep apnea truly associated with hearing loss? A nationwide, population-based study with STOP-BANG questionnaire

Front Public Health. 2023 May 25:11:1170470. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1170470. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on hearing ability.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the population-based survey data collected by the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. The data included 3,575 participants who completed the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) and pure-tone audiometry. OSA risk was assessed using the SBQ, and the hearing level was compared between the risk groups.

Results: Among the 3,575 participants, 2,152 (60.2%), 891 (24.9%), and 532 (14.9%) were classified as being low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. The intermediate- and high-risk groups showed significantly worse hearing levels than the low-risk group. When age and sex were adjusted, the hearing level did not differ between the risk groups.

Conclusion: The study found that the presence of OSA minimally affected hearing level. Because hearing loss due to hypoxic damage develops over a long period of time, further research on the association between the duration of OSA, rather than the presence or severity of OSA, and hearing loss is needed.

Keywords: KNHANES; STOP-Bang questionnaire; age; hearing loss; sleep apnea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hearing Loss* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Polysomnography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / diagnosis
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires