Table 3.
Multivariate results associated with hearing-aid use in participants with any hearing impairment.
| Overall (N = 3855) | Men (N = 1809) | Women (N = 2046) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | OR (95% CI) | p-value | OR (95% CI) | p-value | OR (95% CI) | p-value |
| Age, per SD | 1.03 (0.90, 1.17) | 0.67 | 1.00 (0.84, 1.19) | 0.99 | 1.03 (0.84, 1.25) | 0.80 |
| Sex, female vs. male | 0.81 (0.63, 1.06) | 0.13 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| BMI, per SD | 0.83 (0.73, 0.94) | <0.01 | 0.81 (0.69, 0.96) | 0.01 | 0.85 (0.70, 1.03) | 0.10 |
| Diabetes, yes vs. no | 1.35 (0.95, 1.90) | 0.09 | 1.69 (1.09, 2.60) | 0.02 | 0.88 (0.48, 1.59) | 0.68 |
| Cognitive status, impaired vs. unimpaired | 0.66 (0.48, 0.91) | 0.01 | 0.77 (0.50, 1.20) | 0.25 | 0.53 (0.32, 0.86) | 0.01 |
| Physical activity, moderate or greater, yes vs. no | 1.19 (0.92, 1.53) | 0.18 | 0.88 (0.63, 1.25) | 0.48 | 1.65 (1.12, 2.43) | 0.01 |
| Activities of daily living, per SD | 0.94 (0.83, 1.06) | 0.31 | 0.98 (0.83, 1.16) | 0.79 | 0.89 (0.74, 1.07) | 0.23 |
| Leisure activities: mental, per SD | 1.15 (1.02, 1.30) | 0.02 | 1.18 (1.00, 1.39) | 0.05 | 1.13 (0.94, 1.35) | 0.19 |
| Leisure activities: social, per SD | 1.13 (1.00, 1.27) | 0.04 | 1.17 (1.00, 1.37) | 0.05 | 1.08 (0.90, 1.30) | 0.39 |
| Number of medications, per SD | 1.16 (1.02, 1.33) | 0.02 | 1.12 (0.94, 1.34) | 0.19 | 1.22 (1.00, 1.49) | 0.05 |
| Self-reported history of angina, yes vs. no | 0.75 (0.53, 1.07) | 0.11 | 0.93 (0.59, 1.45) | 0.74 | 0.53 (0.30, 0.95) | 0.03 |
| Moderate or severe hand osteoarthritis, yes vs. no | 1.28 (0.98, 1.66) | 0.07 | 1.49 (1.03, 2.18) | 0.04 | 1.07 (0.73, 1.56) | 0.74 |
| PTA value - low frequencya, per 5 dB HL increment | 1.78 (1.66, 1.92) | <0.01 | 1.61 (1.47, 1.77) | <0.01 | 2.08 (1.85, 2.35) | <0.01 |
| PTA value - high frequencyb, per 5 dB HL increment | 1.20 (1.13, 1.27) | <0.01 | 1.16 (1.08, 1.25) | <0.01 | 1.25 (1.15, 1.37) | <0.01 |
| Self-reported hearing loss, yes vs. no | 2.76 (2.04, 3.75) | <0.01 | 2.68 (1.77, 4.08) | <0.01 | 3.07 (1.94, 4.86) | <0.01 |
| Self-reported repeated ear infections, yes vs. no | 1.27 (0.94, 1.73) | 0.12 | 1.12 (0.71, 1.77) | 0.63 | 1.26 (0.81, 1.94) | 0.31 |
-- indicates variable not included in model; SD = standard deviation; OR = odds ratio; CI = confidence interval; BMI = body mass index. All p-values <0.05 are shown in bold print.
Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) value – low frequency is the average of the audiometric thresholds at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz frequencies in the better ear.
Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) value – high frequency is the average of the audiometric thresholds at 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz frequencies in the better ear. Models included all of the following variables: age, sex (in overall model), BMI, diabetes, cognitive status, physical activity, activities of daily living, leisure activities (mental), leisure activities (social), number of medications, self-reported history of angina, moderate or severe hand osteoarthritis, PTA threshold (low frequency) in better ear, PTA threshold (high frequency) in better ear, self-reported hearing loss, and self-reported repeated ear infections.