Hearing Loss and Circulating Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction

Hearing loss is highly prevalent in older people, affecting around 25 percent of American adults aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those aged 75 and older (NIH, 2016). The number of people affected by this disability continues to rise, as does the associated cost that affects individuals in terms of their quality of life and society. Several co-morbidities often accompany age-related hearing loss, including endothelial dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk, and there is evidence of significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease among people with hearing loss (Circulation. 2016;134:A19010). Hearing loss has significantly negative effects on quality of life, mental health, and physical function. Therefore, finding potentially modifiable risk factors and markers for hearing loss should be a public health priority.