To investigate the association between Healthy Eating Index 2015 scores and hearing loss.

This study used cross-sectional data from individuals aged over 20 years (n = 5171) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2018. Information was collected on their hearing, Healthy Eating Index 2015 scores, and several other important covariates using multivariate regression analyses.

After adjusting for potential confounders, when hearing loss was defined as ≥20 dB, the odds ratios for low-frequency and high-frequency hearing loss were 0.99 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) = 0.98−0.99, p < 0.001) and 0.99 (95 per cent CI = 0.98−1, p = 0.006), respectively. When hearing loss was defined as >25 dB, the odds ratios for low-frequency hearing loss and speech-frequency band hearing loss were 0.98 (95 per cent CI = 0.98−0.99, p < 0.001) and 0.99 (95 per cent CI = 0.98−1, p = 0.008), respectively.

In U.S. adults, the Healthy Eating Index 2015 is associated with hearing loss.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the Healthy Eating Index 2015 scores and hearing loss.

This study utilized cross-sectional data from individuals aged over 20 years (n = 5171) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2012 and 2015 to 2018. We collected information on their hearing, Healthy Eating Index 2015 scores and several other important covariates using multivariate regression analyses.

After adjusting for potential confounders, when hearing loss was defined as greater than or equal to 20 dB, the odds ratio for low-frequency hearing loss and high-frequency hearing loss was 0.99 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.98–0.99; p < 0.001) and 0.99 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.98–1; p = 0.006), respectively. When hearing loss was defined as greater than 25 dB, the odds ratio for low-frequency hearing loss and speech-frequency band hearing loss was 0.98 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.98–0.99; p < 0.001) and 0.99 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.98–1; p = 0.008), respectively.

In American adults, Healthy Eating Index scores are associated with hearing loss.

To determine sociodemographic factors associated with occupational, recreational and firearm-related noise exposure.

This nationally representative, multistage, stratified, cluster cross-sectional study sampled eligible National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants aged 20–69 years (n = 4675) about exposure to occupational and recreational noise and recurrent firearm usage, using a weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Thirty-four per cent of participants had exposure to occupational noise and 12 per cent to recreational noise, and 13 per cent repeatedly used firearms. Males were more likely than females to have exposure to all three noise types (adjusted odds ratio range = 2.63–14.09). Hispanics and Asians were less likely to have exposure to the three noise types than Whites. Blacks were less likely than Whites to have occupational and recurrent firearm noise exposure. Those with insurance were 26 per cent less likely to have exposure to occupational noise than those without insurance (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74, 95 per cent confidence interval = 0.60–0.93).

Whites, males and uninsured people are more likely to have exposure to potentially hazardous loud noise.