Increased Risk of Sensorineural Hearing Loss as a Result of Exposure to Air Pollution

Kuang-Hsi Chang, Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai, Chang-Yin Lee, Ruey-Hwang Chou, Hueng-Chuen Fan, Frank Cheau-Feng Lin, Cheng-Li Lin and Yi-Chao Hsu
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Kuang-Hsi Chang: Department of Medical Research, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 43503, Taiwan
Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai: Department of Otolaryngology, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 43503, Taiwan
Chang-Yin Lee: College of Medicine, The School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, I-Shou University (Yancho Campus), Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
Ruey-Hwang Chou: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Hueng-Chuen Fan: Department of Medical Research, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taichung 43503, Taiwan
Frank Cheau-Feng Lin: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Cheng-Li Lin: Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Yi-Chao Hsu: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Whether exposure to air pollution is associated with developing sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) remains controversial. Using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database, we recruited a total of 75,767 subjects aged older than 20 years with no history of SHL from 1998 to 2010, and they were followed up until SHL was observed, they withdrew from the National Health Insurance program, or the study ended. The subjects were evenly exposed to low-level, mid-level, and high-level carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ). The incidence rate ratio of SHL for patients exposed to high-level CO was 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14–1.36). The NO 2 pollutants increased the incidence rate ratios of SHL in mid-level NO 2 and high-level NO 2 exposures by 1.10 (95% CI = 1.10–1.32) and 1.36 (95% CI = 1.24–1.49) times, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (adj. HR) of SHL in patients exposed to high-level CO was 1.45 (95% CI = 1.31–1.59), relative to that of patients exposed to low-level CO. Compared to patients exposed to low-level NO 2 , patients exposed to mid-level NO 2 (adj. HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.27–1.54) and high-level NO 2 (adj. HR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.48–1.81) had a higher risk of developing SHL. The increased risk of SHL following the increased concentrations of air pollutants (CO and NO 2 ) was statistically significant in this study. In conclusion, the subjects’ exposure to air pollution exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing SHL in Taiwan.

Keywords: air pollution; sensorineural hearing loss; National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD); hazard ratio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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