Impaired kidney function linked to hearing loss

The study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease, reveals that older individuals suffering from moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely to suffer from hearing problems vis-à-vis healthy counterparts.

Details of the study
For the study, researchers from the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne and Macquarie assessed medical records of 2,564 people, aged 50 and above.

Nearly 513 participants were diagnosed for moderate CKD.

The problem of hearing loss was predominantly higher among patients with CKD, the researchers found.

Around 54.4 percent of the patients with CKD reported suffering from some degree of hearing loss, as against 28.3 percent patients with no kidney problems, researchers revealed.

Moreover, severe hearing loss condition was found to affect 30 percent of the CKD patients as against 10 percent of patients with healthy kidneys.

"Hearing loss is commonly linked to syndromal kidney disease. However, this study suggests a strong tie to CKD in general," Professor David Harris, study’s co-author from Sydney Medical School in Australia, said.

What causes the link-up
"The link can be explained by structural and functional similarities between tissues in the inner ear and in the kidney," Harris explained.

"Additionally, toxins that accumulate in kidney failure can damage nerves, including those in the inner ear. Another reason for this connection is that kidney disease and hearing loss share common risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure and advanced age," he added.

Moreover, some treatments for kidney function can affect hearing, researchers noted.

"Some medications used to treat kidney issues include information on how much they contribute to hearing loss," Dr. Robert Hopkin, researcher of genetic disorders at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said. "People need to pay attention to that."

"These findings could lead to a modification of the usual care of people with CKD," Dr. Kerry Willis, Senior Vice President of Scientific Activities at the National Kidney Foundation, averred.

"If you have kidney disease, you should consult your doctor about testing for hearing," Harris recommended. "It's a simple test, but will help you to take special care if you do have a hearing impairment."

"Earlier clinical hearing assessments and fitting of hearing aids in CKD patients can improve quality of life and lead to better management of underlying conditions which could, in turn, potentially preserve hearing function," he added.