Mortality and Cause of Death in Hearing Loss Participants: A Longitudinal Follow-up Study Using a National Sample Cohort

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to estimate the risk of mortality in hearing loss subjects in accordance with the cause of death. Study Design: A longitudinal follow up study. Setting: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort were collected from a period between 2002 and 2013. Patients and Intervention: The 4,606 severe and 1,007 profound hearing loss participants with 40 or more years old were 1:4 matched with control participants, respectively, for age, sex, income, and region of residence. The causes of death were grouped into 12 classifications. Main Outcome Measures: The ratio of mortality was compared between the hearing loss and control group using a chi(2) test or Fisher's exact test. In a Cox-proportional hazard model, age, sex, income, region of residence, and past medical histories were considered confounders. Results: The severe and profound hearing loss groups showed 4.07 (95% CI = 3.71-4.46, p < 0.001) and 4.22 times (95% CI = 3.52-5.05, p < 0.001) higher mortality ratios in the adjusted models, respectively. Both the severe and profound hearing loss groups showed higher mortality by infection, neoplasm, trauma, and metabolic, mental, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive diseases than control groups (p < 0.05). Among various causes of death, death by trauma revealed the highest odds ratios in both the severe and profound hearing loss groups. Conclusion: Hearing loss was associated with a significant increase in mortality.