Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Hearing loss affects over 1.5 billion individuals globally, with significant implications for mental health. This study investigates the association between hearing aid use and mental health outcomes, by particularly focusing on depression and unmet mental health needs (UMHN), across a diverse international sample.
METHODS: Utilizing data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), this study involved 17,660 participants with hearing impairment from 28 countries. The study examined the association between hearing aid use and mental health outcomes, including the likelihood of moderate and severe depression and UMHN due to lack of contact with general practitioners (GPs) and mental health specialists. Logistic regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, health risk behaviours, and other relevant variables, were employed. Inverse probability weights were used to mitigate potential selection bias.
RESULTS: Hearing aid usage was associated with significantly lower likelihoods of moderate depression (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.58, 95%CI = [0.54, 0.63]) and severe depression (OR = 0.61, 95%CI = [0.55, 0.69]), compared to non-usage. Hearing aid usage was also associated with reduced UMHN due to lack of GP contact for moderate (OR = 0.82, 95%CI = [0.75, 0.89]) and severe depression (OR = 0.75, 95%CI = [0.59, 0.95]). The depression risk reductions were greater among females and higher-educated subgroups but lower in individuals aged ≥65 years. Income level and rurality also impacted UMHN due to the lack of GP contact. No associations were found between hearing aids and UMHN due to the lack of mental health specialist contact.
CONCLUSIONS: Hearing aid adoption showed protective associations against mood disorders and lowered unmet primary mental healthcare needs. Tailoring intervention strategies to vulnerable sociodemographic profiles could optimize mental health benefits among those with hearing loss. Integrating hearing health services within mental healthcare delivery frameworks is vital amidst the rising global burden.
METHODS: Utilizing data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), this study involved 17,660 participants with hearing impairment from 28 countries. The study examined the association between hearing aid use and mental health outcomes, including the likelihood of moderate and severe depression and UMHN due to lack of contact with general practitioners (GPs) and mental health specialists. Logistic regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, health risk behaviours, and other relevant variables, were employed. Inverse probability weights were used to mitigate potential selection bias.
RESULTS: Hearing aid usage was associated with significantly lower likelihoods of moderate depression (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.58, 95%CI = [0.54, 0.63]) and severe depression (OR = 0.61, 95%CI = [0.55, 0.69]), compared to non-usage. Hearing aid usage was also associated with reduced UMHN due to lack of GP contact for moderate (OR = 0.82, 95%CI = [0.75, 0.89]) and severe depression (OR = 0.75, 95%CI = [0.59, 0.95]). The depression risk reductions were greater among females and higher-educated subgroups but lower in individuals aged ≥65 years. Income level and rurality also impacted UMHN due to the lack of GP contact. No associations were found between hearing aids and UMHN due to the lack of mental health specialist contact.
CONCLUSIONS: Hearing aid adoption showed protective associations against mood disorders and lowered unmet primary mental healthcare needs. Tailoring intervention strategies to vulnerable sociodemographic profiles could optimize mental health benefits among those with hearing loss. Integrating hearing health services within mental healthcare delivery frameworks is vital amidst the rising global burden.
摘要：
背景：听力损失影响全球超过15亿人，对心理健康有重大影响。这项研究调查了助听器使用与心理健康结果之间的关系，通过特别关注抑郁症和未满足的心理健康需求（UMHN），在不同的国际样本中。
方法：利用来自欧洲健康访谈调查（EHIS）第三波的数据，这项研究涉及来自28个国家的17,660名听力障碍参与者.该研究检查了助听器使用与心理健康结果之间的关系，包括由于缺乏与全科医生（GP）和心理健康专家的接触而导致中度和重度抑郁症和UMHN的可能性。Logistic回归模型，根据社会人口特征进行调整，健康风险行为，和其他相关变量，被雇用。反向概率权重用于减轻潜在的选择偏差。
结果：助听器的使用与中度抑郁（比值比[OR]=0.58，95CI=[0.54，0.63]）和重度抑郁（OR=0.61，95CI=[0.55，0.69]）的可能性明显降低有关，与不使用相比。由于缺乏GP接触，中度（OR=0.82，95CI=[0.75，0.89]）和重度抑郁症（OR=0.75，95CI=[0.59，0.95]），助听器的使用也与UMHN降低相关。女性和受过高等教育的亚组的抑郁风险降低更大，但年龄≥65岁的人群的抑郁风险降低更低。由于缺乏全科医生的联系，收入水平和农村程度也影响了UMHN。由于缺乏心理健康专家的联系，助听器和UMHN之间没有发现关联。
结论：助听器的采用显示了对情绪障碍的保护性关联，并降低了未满足的主要精神保健需求。针对脆弱的社会人口统计学特征量身定制干预策略可以优化听力损失患者的心理健康益处。在全球负担不断增加的情况下，将听力保健服务纳入精神保健提供框架至关重要。
方法：利用来自欧洲健康访谈调查（EHIS）第三波的数据，这项研究涉及来自28个国家的17,660名听力障碍参与者.该研究检查了助听器使用与心理健康结果之间的关系，包括由于缺乏与全科医生（GP）和心理健康专家的接触而导致中度和重度抑郁症和UMHN的可能性。Logistic回归模型，根据社会人口特征进行调整，健康风险行为，和其他相关变量，被雇用。反向概率权重用于减轻潜在的选择偏差。
结果：助听器的使用与中度抑郁（比值比[OR]=0.58，95CI=[0.54，0.63]）和重度抑郁（OR=0.61，95CI=[0.55，0.69]）的可能性明显降低有关，与不使用相比。由于缺乏GP接触，中度（OR=0.82，95CI=[0.75，0.89]）和重度抑郁症（OR=0.75，95CI=[0.59，0.95]），助听器的使用也与UMHN降低相关。女性和受过高等教育的亚组的抑郁风险降低更大，但年龄≥65岁的人群的抑郁风险降低更低。由于缺乏全科医生的联系，收入水平和农村程度也影响了UMHN。由于缺乏心理健康专家的联系，助听器和UMHN之间没有发现关联。
结论：助听器的采用显示了对情绪障碍的保护性关联，并降低了未满足的主要精神保健需求。针对脆弱的社会人口统计学特征量身定制干预策略可以优化听力损失患者的心理健康益处。在全球负担不断增加的情况下，将听力保健服务纳入精神保健提供框架至关重要。
