Longer use of pain relievers associated with hearing loss in women
As many as two-thirds of women in the United States over the age of 60 have some degree of hearing loss. Using data from the Nurses’ Health Study, a team led by researchers from Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) has found evidence that the duration of use of over-the-counter medications for pain relief, including ibuprofen or acetaminophen, is associated with higher risk of hearing loss. The new study, published today in the American Journal of Epidemiology, adds to a growing body of evidence linking the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or acetaminophen with loss of hearing, although the exact mechanism at play remains unknown. “Hearing loss is extremely common in the United States and can have a profound impact on quality of life,” said senior author Gary Curhan, a physician in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Finding modifiable risk factors could help us...