Authors:	Hackenberg, Berit Döge, Julia Lackner, Karl J. Beutel, Manfred E. Münzel, Thomas Pfeiffer, Norbert Nagler, Markus Schmidtmann, Irene Wild, Philipp S. Matthias, Christoph Bahr, Katharina
Title:	Hearing loss and its burden of disease in a large German cohort—hearing loss in Germany
Online publication date:	5-Sep-2022
Year of first publication:	2022
Language:	english
Abstract:	Objectives/Hypothesis Hearing loss is the most common sensory impairment worldwide. It restricts patients in many aspects of their daily lives and can lead to social exclusion. Understanding this burden is a mandatory requirement for the care of those affected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the burden of hearing loss in a large German cohort. Study Design Cohort study. Methods The Gutenberg Health Study is designed as a single-center, prospective, and observational cohort study and representative for the city of Mainz, Germany, with its district. Participants were interviewed concerning common otologic symptoms and tested by pure-tone audiometry. The primary outcome was hearing impairment stratified by age and sex. The prevalence of tinnitus was estimated for a subcohort to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). All results were weighted by the European Standard Population (ESP) 2013. Results A total of 5,024 participants (mean age: 61.2 years, 2,591 men and 2,433 women) were included in the study. Hearing impairment showed the following prevalence: 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.9%–29.4%) mild impairment, 10.1% (95% CI, 9.3%–11.0%) moderate impairment, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.9%–2.7%) moderately severe impairment, 0.2% (95% CI, 0.1%–0.4%) severe impairment, 0% (95% CI, 0.0%–0.1%) profound impairment, and 0.1% (95% CI, 0.0%–0.2%) complete impairment. Weighted for the ESP 2013 (all ages), hearing impairment across all levels (with/without tinnitus) causes a total of 2,118.97 DALYs per 100,000. Conclusion With 40.9% affected, the hearing loss represents a relevant burden of the German population. Understanding this will provide the basis for future guidelines on how to care for these patients.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-7674
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY-NC-ND
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Journal:	The laryngoscope 132 9
Pages or article number:	1843 1849
Publisher:	Wiley
Publisher place:	Malden, MA
Issue date:	2022
ISSN:	1531-4995
Publisher DOI:	10.1002/lary.29980
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen