Association between Sleep Duration and Presbycusis in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Published in: Korean journal of family medicine 2023-03, Vol.44 (2), p.117-123
• Main Authors: Kang, Min Ju, Lee, Youngin, Kim, Yun Jin, Lee, Sang Yeoup, Lee, Jeong Gyu, Yi, Yu Hyeon, Cho, Young Hye, Tak, Young Jin, Park, Eun Ju, Lee, Seung Hun, Kim, Gyu Lee, Choi, Jung In, Ra, Young Jin, Lee, Sae Rom, Kwon, Ryuk Jun, Son, Soo Min, Lee, Yea Ji, Choi, Young Eun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2005-6443; 2092-6715; 2092-6715
• DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.22.0137

Sleep duration is associated with hearing loss, especially presbycusis, which is the most common type of hearing loss; however, there is limited evidence regarding this association among the Korean population. We aimed to determine the relationship between sleep duration and high-frequency hearing loss in Korean adults aged ≥40 years. We examined 5,547 Korean adults aged ≥40 years who completed audiometric tests and questionnaires regarding sleep duration during the 2010-2012 cycle of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mild presbycusis was defined as >25 decibels (dB) and 40 dB pure tone averages at high frequencies (3,000, 4,000, and 6,000 Hz) for both ears. Additionally, the sleep duration was divided into quartiles. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariable logistic regression after adjusting for covariates. The prevalence of presbycusis in South Korean adults was 62.1%, of which 61.4% showed moderate to severe presbycusis. The incidence of moderate-to-severe, but not mild, presbycusis showed a significant positive correlation with sleep duration. Our findings suggest that sleep duration is associated with the prevalence of presbycusis.