Hygiena 2022, 67(1):4-11 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1802

Smoking and hearing loss

Michaela Škerková¹, Martina Kovalová^{1, 2}, Tomáš Rychlý¹, Nikol Mikolášová¹, Jana Janoutová^{1, 2}, Rastislav Maďar¹, Eva Mrázková^{1, 3, 4}

¹ Ostravská univerzita, Lékařská fakulta, Ústav epidemiologie a ochrany veřejného zdraví, Ostrava, Česká republika

² Univerzita Palackého, Fakulta zdravotních věd, Ústav zdravotnického managementu a ochrany veřejného zdraví, Olomouc, Česká republika

³ Centrum pro poruchy sluchu a rovnováhy, Ostrava, Česká republika

⁴ Nemocnice Havířov, Oddělení ORL a chirurgie hlavy a krku, Havířov, Česká republika

Objective: Hearing loss has a significant impact on interpersonal communication. It is a symptom that can be caused by many risk factors, including smoking. This work has aimed to determine whether there is a connection between smoking and hearing impairment and to determine the degree of association, considering variables such as gender and age.

Methodology: Hearing thresholds at frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 Hz were compared using audiometry. Prevalences of hearing loss occurrence and hearing thresholds were compared according to age groups and smoking levels determined by the Brinkman index (BI). The average hearing thresholds at individual frequencies depending on smoking were compared between men and women divided in four different age groups.

Results: According to significant statistical differences, the effect of smoking on hearing thresholds was observed more often in women than in men. The effect of smoking on hearing loss was statistically proven in men with BI ≥ 400 aged 20-44 years at frequencies of 500-2,000 Hz, in men aged 45-54 years at frequencies of 1,000-6,000 Hz, and in men with BI ≤ 400 aged 55-64 years and 65-74 years at 500 Hz. In women with BI ≥ 400, the effect of smoking on hearing thresholds was detected in the 45-54 age group at frequencies of 500, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 Hz, in women with BI ≤ 400 aged 55-64 years at 500, 1,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 Hz, and in women with BI ≥ 400 aged 65-74 years at frequencies of 500-4,000 Hz.

Conclusion: The incidence of hearing loss is increasing and it is a problem of global extent. As it can be caused by multifactorial causes, it is necessary to focus on those that are well preventable, such as noise and smoking.

Keywords: hearing loss, smoking, Brinkman index, audiometry

Received: November 2021; Accepted: January 17, 2022; Published: February 28, 2022  Show citation