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Illegal Drug Use and Risk of Hearing Loss in the United States: A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Po-Ting Lin

    (School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    In this study, they had equal contribution.)

  • I-Hsun Li

    (School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    In this study, they had equal contribution.)

  • Hui-Wen Yang

    (Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Kuan-Wei Chiang

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan)

  • Chih-Hung Wang

    (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Li-Ting Kao

    (School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

Abstract

The use of illegal drugs may be a risk factor of hearing loss. However, very few studies with large sample size have investigated the relationship between illegal drug use and hearing loss. Therefore, to evaluate the association between illegal drug use and hearing loss, this cross-sectional population-based study collected data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011. The study included 1772 participants aged 20 to 59 years who underwent the Drug Use Questionnaire and Audiometry Examination. Of the 1772 participants in this study, 865 were men (48.8%) and 497 were illegal drug users. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 40.0 (11.4) years. After considering age, sex, and comorbidities, the participants who used illegal drugs were found to have higher risks of high-frequency hearing loss (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.35–2.10) and overall hearing loss (adjusted OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.36–2.12) as compared with the nonusers. In the second analysis, the participants who used ≥ 2 types of illegal drugs were associated with higher risks of high-frequency hearing loss (adjusted OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.06–2.32) and overall hearing loss (adjusted OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.08–2.37). In the third analysis, cocaine use was associated with increased risks of high-frequency hearing loss (adjusted OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01–1.77) and overall hearing loss (adjusted OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.04–1.82). The adjusted OR for overall hearing loss in the methamphetamine users was 1.54 (95% CI, 1.05–2.27) as compared with that in the nonusers. This study shows that illegal drug users might have a higher risk of overall hearing loss than nonusers. In addition, the analysis results demonstrated that the more kinds of illegal drugs used, the higher the risk of hearing loss. Further experimental and longitudinal research studies are required to confirm the causal relationship between illegal drug use and hearing loss.

Suggested Citation

  • Po-Ting Lin & I-Hsun Li & Hui-Wen Yang & Kuan-Wei Chiang & Chih-Hung Wang & Li-Ting Kao, 2021. "Illegal Drug Use and Risk of Hearing Loss in the United States: A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:11945-:d:678580
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Brendan Saloner, 2019. "The Effect of Public Insurance Expansions on Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(2), pages 366-393, March.
    2. Goman, A.M. & Lin, F.R., 2016. "Prevalence of hearing loss by severity in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(10), pages 1820-1822.
    3. Jui-Hu Shih & I-Hsun Li & Ke-Ting Pan & Chih-Hung Wang & Hsin-Chien Chen & Li-Yun Fann & Jen-Ho Tseng & Li-Ting Kao, 2020. "Association between Anemia and Auditory Threshold Shifts in the US Population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-9, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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