Prospective effects of hearing status on loneliness and depression in older persons: Identification of subgroups

• Published in: International journal of audiology 2011-12, Vol.50 (12), p.887-896
• Main Authors: Pronk, Marieke, Deeg, Dorly J.H., Smits, Cas, van Tilburg, Theo G., Kuik, Dirk J., Festen, Joost M., Kramer, Sophia E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - etiology; Elderly people; Female; Hearing; Hearing Loss - epidemiology; Hearing Loss - psychology; Hearing status; Humans; Linear Models; Loneliness; longitudinal; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands - epidemiology; older persons; Selfreport; Side effects
• ISSN: 1499-2027; 1708-8186
• DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2011.599871

Abstract Objective: To determine the possible longitudinal relationships between hearing status and depression, and hearing status and loneliness in the older population. Design: Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between baseline hearing and 4-year follow-up of depression, social loneliness, and emotional loneliness. Hearing was measured both by self-report and a speech-in-noise test. Each model was corrected for age, gender, hearing aid use, baseline wellbeing, and relevant confounders. Subgroup effects were tested using interaction terms. Study sample: We used data from two waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (2001-02 and 2005-06, ages 63-93). Sample sizes were 996 (self-report (SR) analyses) and 830 (speech-in-noise test (SNT) analyses). Results: Both hearing measures showed significant adverse associations with both loneliness measures (p < 0.05). However, stratified analyses showed that these effects were restricted to specific subgroups. For instance, effects were significant only for non-hearing aid users (SR-social loneliness model) and men (SR and SNT-emotional loneliness model). No significant effects appeared for depression. Conclusions: We found significant adverse effects of poor hearing on emotional and social loneliness for specific subgroups of older persons. Future research should confirm the subgroup effects and may contribute to the development of tailored prevention and intervention programs. Sumario Objetivo: Determinar las posibles relaciones longitudinales entre la condición auditiva y la depresión, y la condici n auditiva y la soledad, en adultos mayores. Diseño: Se usaron múltiples análisis de regresión lineal para evaluar las asociaciones entre la audición basal y el seguimiento a 4 años con la depresiún, la soledad social y la soledad emocional. La audición se midió tanto por auto-reporte como por la prueba de audición en ruido. Cada modelo fue corregido por edad, g nero, uso del auxiliar auditivo, bienestar basal y elementos relevantes de confusión. El efecto de subgrupo fue evaluado usando términos de interacción. Muestra del Estudio: Usamos datos de dos etapas del Estudio Longitudinal de Envejecimiento e Amsterdam (2001-02 y 2005-06, edades 63-93). El tamaño de las muestras fue 996 (análisis de auto-reporte (SR) y 830 (análisis de la prueba de audición en ruido). Resultados: Ambas mediciones auditivas mostraron asociaciones adversas significativas con ambas medidas de soledad