ABSTRACT

Objective:
This study aims to explore the association between coffee consumption and the prevalence of hearing loss in American adults based on a national population-based survey.

Design:
Cross-sectional analysis of reported audiometric status and coffee intake from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariate logistic regression, forest plots and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were used to explore the associations and dose-response relationships between coffee consumption frequency and hearing loss.

Setting:
The USA.

Participant:
This study included 1894 individuals aged ≥ 20 from the 2003-2006 NHANES.

Results:
In this study, the prevalence of speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL) and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) among the participants was 35.90% and 51.54%, respectively. Compared with those who no consumed coffee, non-Hispanic White who consumed ≥ 4 cups/d had higher prevalence of SFHL (Odds Ratio[OR]: 1.87; 95% Confidence Interval[CI]: 1.003-3.47). And a positive trend of coffee consumption frequency with the prevalence of HFHL was found (Ptrend = 0.001). This association of HFHL was similar for aged 20-64 participants (Ptrend = 0.001), non-Hispanic White (Ptrend = 0.002), non-noise exposure participants (Ptrend = 0.03), and noise exposed participants (Ptrend = 0.003). The forest plots analysis found that the association between 1 cup-increment of daily coffee consumption and the prevalence of HFHL was statistically significant in males. RCS model supported a positive linear association of coffee consumption with SFHL (P for overall association = 0.02, P for nonlinearity = 0.48), and a positive non-linear association of coffee consumption with HFHL (P for overall association = 0.001, P for nonlinearity = 0.001).

Conclusion:
Our findings suggested that coffee consumption was associated with higher prevalence of hearing loss. Further cohort studies in larger population are needed to investigate these findings.

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