Relationship Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity, Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers, and Hearing Sensitivity Using Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006

Purpose: Limited research has examined the interrelationships among cardiometabolic parameters, physical activity, and hearing function, which was this study's purpose. Method: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( NHANES) 2003-2006 were used in the path analyses. Physical activity and hearing function were both objectively measured. Various cardiometabolic parameters were assessed from a blood sample. Adults 30-85 years (N = 1,070) constituted the analytic sample. Results: Physical activity was negatively associated with triglycerides (beta = -0.11, p < .05) and insulin (beta = -0.27, p < .05); triglycerides (beta = 0.01, p < .05), and insulin (beta = 0.05, p < .05) were positively associated with high-frequency pure-tone average (HPTA). The direct path from physical activity to HPTA was nonsignificant (beta = 0.01, p = .99). Conclusion: Physical activity was associated with select cardiovascular disease risk factors. Several cardiovascular disease risk factors were associated with hearing function.