Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
2001 Jul;44(7):1256-1261.
The Association of Concentration of Serum Estradiol and
Bone Mineral Density with Auditory Function in Postmenopausal Women
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine,
University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine,
University of Ulsan, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women is associated with serum estradiol level or bone mineral density (BMD)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 1999 to December 1999, serum concentration of estradiol,
bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, and hearing sensitivity were measured in
1162 postmenopausal women. Serum concentration of estradiol was measured by radioimmunoassay. Dual
energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to measure bone mineral densities of the lumbar
vertebrae and femoral neck. Pure tone thresholds were evaluated by screening pure tone audiometry. All
data were analyzed with Student's t-test, multiple logistic regression analysis, and multiple linear
regression analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 1155 patients were analyzed; 155 patients were in the hearing-loss group and 1000
patients were in the control group. On univariate analysis, significant differences were found in mean age,
concentration of serum estradiol, and BMD of the femoral neck between the two groups (mean+/-SD, 58.1+/-5.2
vs 56.0+/-4.3, 11.6+/-6.0 vs 13.1+/-12.0, 0.67+/-0.11 vs 0.70+/-0.11; p-value: 0.0001, 0.01, 0.02). On multiple
logistic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis, significant association was found between
age and hearing loss and between age and pure tone threshold (p-value: 0.0001, 0.0001, respectively).
However, neither seum concentration of estradiol nor BMD was associated with hearing loss or pure tone
threshold.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that hearing sensitivity in postmenopausal women is not directly
associated with serum estradiol level or BMD.