Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35836216›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2022

Hearing loss, sick leave, and disability pension: findings from the HUNT follow-up study.

Astrid Ytrehus Jørgensen, Lisa Aarhus, Bo Engdahl, Bernt Bratsberg, Vegard Fykse Skirbekk, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
6.3field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Age-Related Hearing Loss: Evidence-Based Strategies for Early Detection and Management.ORL-head and neck nursing : official journal of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses · 2025
    Article
  5. Observational
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Astrid Ytrehus JørgensenDepartment of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway. astrid.jorgensen@stami.no.
Lisa AarhusDepartment of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
Bo EngdahlDepartment of Chronic Diseases and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Bernt BratsbergThe Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research, Oslo, Norway.
Vegard Fykse SkirbekkCentre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Ingrid Sivesind MehlumDepartment of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
National Institute of Occupational Health · NONorwegian Institute of Public Health · NO

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEvidence on the association between hearing loss and sick leave or disability pension is to a great extent based on few cross-sectional studies and remains unclear. We aim to assess the associations in a long-term follow-up population study.

methodsWe used baseline data from a large population-based hearing study in Norway, the HUNT Hearing study (1996-1998). The sample included 21 754 adults (48.5% men, mean age at baseline 36.6 years). We used register data on sick leave and disability pension (1996-2011). Cox regression was used to assess the association between hearing loss at baseline (Pure tone average/PTA 0.5-4 kHz > 20 dB) and time to first physician-certified sick leave episode, as well as time to first disability pension payment.

resultsHearing loss at baseline (yes/no) was weakly associated with time to first physician-certified sick leave episode: Hazard ratio (HR) 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.3). Restricting the exposed group to people with both hearing loss and tinnitus, the HR was slightly increased: 1.3 (95% CI 1.1-1.6). Hearing loss in 1996-1998 was also associated with time to first received disability pension: HR 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.8). Stronger associations were found for disabling hearing loss (PTA > 35). Restricting the exposure to hearing loss and tinnitus, the HR was increased: 2.0 (95% CI 1.4-2.8).

conclusionsThis large population-based cohort study indicates that hearing loss is associated with increased risk of receiving disability pension, especially among younger adults and low educated workers. Hearing loss was weakly associated with sick leave.

Indexed as

DeafnessHearing LossPersons with DisabilitiesTinnitusAdultCohort StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMalePensionsSick LeaveSwedenDisability pensionHearing lossSick leave

Identifiers

PMID35836216
PMCPMC9281024
OpenAlexW4285386280

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.