The scientists here used Cox proportional hazards regression models to determine demographic and health-related factors associated with incident hearing loss, in the entire sample and across sex and race groups, separately. This study included 754 participants without hearing loss at baseline, contributing 3,771 person years. The incidence rate of hearing loss was 44.8 per 1000 PY, and incidence increased with age. In age-adjusted models, older age, male sex, noise exposure, and > 5 to 15 smoking pack years were associated with incident hearing loss; associations with noise exposure and smoking pack years did not remain in age-sex adjusted models. Some factors associated with incident hearing loss varied across sex and race groups. Interventions to prevent or manage hearing loss, which is a common public health concern, may vary across demographic groups.
The scientists here investigated the prevalence and association between MetS and LS among Japanese middle-aged and older adults. MetS was diagnosed using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and LS was assessed using the LS risk test, which includes the stand-up test, two-step test, and the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. The prevalence of LS was significantly higher in individuals with MetS. The association between MetS and LS remained significant after adjusting for age and sex.