Global burden and trends of age-related and other hearing loss: A 32-year analysis and future projections based on the GBD 2021

by Jiao Zhu, Min Yang, Cuiying Zhou, Houyong Kang, Deping Wang

Background

To evaluate the global, regional, and national burdens of and trends in age-related and other hearing loss (ARoHL) from 1990–2021 based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database.

Methods

This study examined trends and disparities in the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of patients with ARoHL across age, sex, and the sociodemographic index (SDI). The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to assess temporal trends. Decomposition analysis, cross-country inequality analysis, and frontier analysis were employed to reveal additional facets of the ARoHL burden, whereas Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) modeling projected future trends to 2040.

Results

ARoHL remains a critical public health challenge. The global age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) increased significantly from 1.71 (95% UI: 1.63–1.80) ×10⁴ to 1.81 (95% UI: 1.73–1.89) ×10⁴ per 100,000 (EAPC = 0.163; 95% CI: 0.154–0.172), whereas the age-standardized YLD rate (ASYR) increased from 499.37 to 525.87 per 100,000 (EAPC = 0.171; 95% CI: 0.161–0.180). Decomposition analysis revealed that epidemiological changes contributed 37.28% to the increase in YLDs. Globally and across all five SDI regions without age distinction, the male ASPR and ASYR were consistently greater than the female ASPR and ASYR at all time points. The relationship between the SDI and ARoHL burden is complex. BAPC projections indicate stable ASPRs and ASYRs through 2040 despite increasing cases and YLDs.

Conclusions

The global ASPR of ARoHL increased by 5.63% and that of ASYR increased by 5.31% from 1990–2021, with the number of cases and YLDs doubling. Targeted interventions and policies must address this growing public health challenge.

A Cross‐Sectional Study of Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Secondary Prevention for Patients With the Disease in China

ABSTRACT

Aims

To explore risk factors for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in secondary prevention for patients with the disease in China.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

A two-stage sampling method was used (stratified sampling and systematic sampling). Patients who met WHO diagnostic criteria for CHD, had the capacity to give informed consent and volunteered to participate were recruited from five districts in Hengyang city, Hunan province, China. Six instruments were used: A general socio-demographic questionnaire, Coronary Heart Disease Self-Management Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaires, Chinese Eight-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Sexual Health Questionnaires. Participants completed the questionnaires in person or via telephone. Single-factor correlation analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were carried out.

Results

A total of 373 patients were recruited with a mean age of 66.25 years (standard deviation = 9.98). The mean score was 57.00 (14.23) for self-management, 5.41 (1.82) for medication adherence, 53.61 (9.26) for anxiety, 8.66 (3.18) for sexual knowledge and 22.20 (9.68) for the need for sexual health education. The median was 1563.90 MET-min/day for total energy consumption of physical activity. Self-management, physical activity, medication adherence, anxiety and sexual health were significantly correlated with a range of demographic variables (age, gender, marital status, occupation, education levels, types of medical insurance, personal monthly income, living arrangements) and illness-related variables (illness duration, number of hospital admissions, type of therapy, number of other chronic diseases, cardiac function grading and BMI).

Conclusion

This research has showed the risk factors related to self-management skills, medication adherence, anxiety, physical activity, sexual knowledge and the need for sexual health education in secondary prevention for patients with CHD. Health professionals play an important role in helping patients reduce risk factors for CHD to minimise its reoccurrence and mortality.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Both hospital-based and community-based health professionals, especially nurses, have an important role to play in developing and implementing health promotion interventions to help patients with CHD reduce risk factors for the disease and thus reduce mortality.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient contribution. Community nursing staff contributed to the design of the general socio-demographic questionnaire for this study.

Reporting Method

The STROBE checklist was used to ensure comprehensive reporting (Appendix S1).