Abstract
Introduction: Hearing loss (HL) is linked to an increased risk of dementia. This study explored the connection between HL and new dementia diagnoses in a large population-based cohort, with matched controls.
Methods: Researchers linked administrative healthcare databases to form a cohort of individuals aged 40 and above who first claimed hearing amplification devices (HAD) through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) between April 2007 and
March 2016. This cohort included 257,285 claimants and 1,005,010 controls. The primary outcome was the incidence of dementia, identified through validated algorithms. The dementia incidence was compared between the groups using Cox regression, considering
various patient, disease, and risk factors.
Results: Dementia incidence rates per 1,000 person-years were 19.51 (95% CI: 19.26–19.77) for ADP claimants and 14.15 (95% CI: 14.04–14.26) for controls. Adjusted analyses showed a higher dementia risk in ADP claimants (HR: 1.10, 95%
CI: 1.09–1.12, p
< 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed a dose-response relationship, with higher dementia risk among patients with bilateral HADs (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.10–1.14, p < 0.001). An exposure-response gradient showed increasing risk over time: April 2007-March
2010 (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.06, p=0 .014), April 2010-March 2013 (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.09–1.15, p < 0.001), and April 2013-March 2016 (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.16–1.23, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The study indicates that adults with HL have a higher risk of developing dementia, highlighting the need for further research on the effects of hearing interventions.
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