Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Mon, Nov 2, 2026
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Volume 40, Issue 1 (1-2026)
Med J Islam Repub Iran 2026 |
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Moghimi M, Ezoji K, Hosseini S R, Bijani A, Tavasoli A. Association between Hearing Loss and Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2026; 40 (1) :942-947
URL: http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-10189-en.html
URL: http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-10189-en.html
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babal, Iran , dr.kh.ezoji@gmail.com
Abstract: (8 Views)
Background: Hearing loss is the most prevalent sensory impairment among older adults and has been associated with various adverse health outcomes. Frailty syndrome is another major geriatric condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate whether hearing loss is independently associated with frailty after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 600 older adults selected from the second phase of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). After excluding participants with incomplete data, we randomly selected 300 participants from each hearing status group, yielding a final analytical sample of 600 participants: those with hearing loss and those without. This 1:1 allocation between hearing groups was created by the authors and does not reflect the natural distribution of hearing loss in the AHAP cohort. Frailty was assessed using the validated FRAIL questionnaire (frail: score ≥3; non-frail: robust + pre-frail: score 0–2). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between hearing loss and frailty, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, education level, marital status, and comorbid chronic diseases.
Results: In unadjusted analyses, hearing loss was significantly associated with higher odds of frailty (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.60–3.20, P < 0.001). Frailty was present in 43.0% of participants with hearing loss compared to 25.0% of those with normal hearing. After adjusting for confounding variables, hearing loss remained significantly associated with frailty (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.25–2.90, P = 0.003). Older age (P < 0.001), female sex (P < 0.001), multimorbidity (P < 0.001), and hearing loss (P = 0.003) were independently associated with frailty.
Conclusion: Hearing loss was independently associated with frailty, even after adjusting for major confounding factors. These findings suggest that hearing loss is associated with frailty in Iranian older adults. Longitudinal studies using objective audiometric measures are necessary to determine whether this association is causal.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 600 older adults selected from the second phase of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). After excluding participants with incomplete data, we randomly selected 300 participants from each hearing status group, yielding a final analytical sample of 600 participants: those with hearing loss and those without. This 1:1 allocation between hearing groups was created by the authors and does not reflect the natural distribution of hearing loss in the AHAP cohort. Frailty was assessed using the validated FRAIL questionnaire (frail: score ≥3; non-frail: robust + pre-frail: score 0–2). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between hearing loss and frailty, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, education level, marital status, and comorbid chronic diseases.
Results: In unadjusted analyses, hearing loss was significantly associated with higher odds of frailty (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.60–3.20, P < 0.001). Frailty was present in 43.0% of participants with hearing loss compared to 25.0% of those with normal hearing. After adjusting for confounding variables, hearing loss remained significantly associated with frailty (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.25–2.90, P = 0.003). Older age (P < 0.001), female sex (P < 0.001), multimorbidity (P < 0.001), and hearing loss (P = 0.003) were independently associated with frailty.
Conclusion: Hearing loss was independently associated with frailty, even after adjusting for major confounding factors. These findings suggest that hearing loss is associated with frailty in Iranian older adults. Longitudinal studies using objective audiometric measures are necessary to determine whether this association is causal.
: Original Research: Clinical Science |
Subject:
Geriatric Medicine
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