Women with osteoporosis and low bone density have higher risk of hearing loss
May 25 2021
Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the United States. Previous studies of people with hearing loss have uncovered higher prevalence of osteoporosis a disease in which the bones become weak and brittle and low bone density (LBD).
But research on whether these conditions may influence risk of hearing loss over time is scarce. It is also unknown whether hearing loss can be avoided by taking bisphosphonates, the primary medication used to prevent fractures in people with reduced bone density. As part of the Conservation of Hearing Study (CHEARS), researchers from Brigham and Women s Hospital analyzed data from nearly 144,000 women who were followed for up to 34 years.
Say What? How Osteoporosis and Low Bone Density Link to Hearing Loss
As part of the Conservation of Hearing Study (CHEARS), researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed data from nearly 144,000 women who were followed for up to 34 years. They found that risk of subsequent moderate or worse hearing loss was up to 40% higher in study participants with osteoporosis or LBD.
The study, published in the
“Adult onset hearing loss is typically irreversible; therefore, CHEARS focuses on identifying potentially modifiable risk factors that may contribute to hearing loss.
“We were inspired by a recent study that found that bisphosphonates may help prevent noise-induced hearing damage in mice. We wanted to investigate whether bisphosphonates alter risk of hearing loss in adults, in addition to whether there is a longitudinal association between osteoporosis or LBD and risk of subsequent hearing loss.”
London [UK], May 24 (ANI): Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed data from nearly 144,000 women who were followed for up to 34 years to find that risk of subsequent moderate or worse hearing loss was up to 40 per cent higher in study participants with osteoporosis or LBD.
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BOSTON Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the United States. Previous studies of people with hearing loss have uncovered higher prevalence of osteoporosis a disease in which the bones become weak and brittle and low bone density (LBD). But research on whether these conditions may influence risk of hearing loss over time is scarce. It is also unknown whether hearing loss can be avoided by taking bisphosphonates, the primary medication used to prevent fractures in people with reduced bone density. As part of the Conservation of Hearing Study (CHEARS), researchers from Brigham and Women s Hospital analyzed data from nearly 144,000 women who were followed for up to 34 years. They found that risk of subsequent moderate or worse hearing loss was up to 40 percent higher in study participants with osteoporosis or LBD. The study, published in the
Tobacco smoke exposure in utero and during early childhood can affect children s lung function
Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in utero and during early childhood-;especially secondhand smoke-;is associated with decreased childhood lung function, according to research presented at the ATS 2021 International Conference.
Hanna Knihtilä, MD, PhD, research fellow, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues sought to clarify the effects of tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy and childhood on children s lung function at age six years.
The authors found that cumulative tobacco smoke exposure reflected by increased blood cotinine levels during pregnancy and childhood is associated with decreased lung function at six years of age. This decrease is evident even with minimal smoking exposures.