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The prevalence of hearing impairment and its burden on the quality of life among adults with Medicare Supplement Insurance

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Abstract

Purpose

To estimate the impact of hearing impairment on quality of life from a physical and mental standpoint.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Health Update Survey, which contains questions on demographics, comorbid conditions, and the Veterans RAND 12-item health status/quality of life survey. It was fielded on a random sample of 15,000 adults with an AARP® Medicare Supplement plan, insured by UnitedHealthcare. Respondents were divided into those with hearing impairments and others, based on their response to a survey question. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to estimate the likelihood of hearing impairment and its impact on quality of life while controlling for respondent demographics and comorbid conditions.

Results

Of the 5,515 eligible respondents, 10.4% reported having hearing impairments. The strongest predictor of hearing impairment was older age, while those with 4 years of college or more were least likely to have hearing impairments. Those with hearing impairments averaged significantly lower physical component and mental component scores, exceeding those of numerous other chronic conditions.

Conclusions

This is the first known study of hearing impairment among those with Medigap coverage. Hearing impairment was strongly associated with lower quality of life from both a physical and mental health standpoint.

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Abbreviations

HHIE:

Hearing handicap inventory for the elderly

NHIS:

National Health Interview Survey

NIH:

National Institutes of Health

US:

United States

CMS:

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services

HOS:

Health Outcomes Survey

HUS:

Health Update Survey

BMI:

Body mass index

VR-12:

Veterans RAND-12

RRR:

Relative risk ratios

PCS:

Physical component score

MCS:

Mental component score

WHO-ICF:

World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Analytics, OptumInsight, 5430 Data Court, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

    Kevin Hawkins, Frank G. Bottone Jr. & Shirley Musich

  2. Research and Policy, UnitedHealth Group Alliances, Advanced Analytics, OptumInsight, 5430 Data Court, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

    Ronald J. Ozminkowski

  3. Research and Development, Advanced Analytics, OptumInsight, 5430 Data Court, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

    Ronald J. Ozminkowski

  4. Pharmacy Analytic Solutions, OptumInsight, 400 Capital Blvd., Rocky Hill, CT, 06067, USA

    Ming Bai

  5. UnitedHealth Group Alliances, 9900 Bren Rd East, Minnetonka, MN, 55343, USA

    Richard J. Migliori

  6. AARP Services, Inc., 601 E Street N.W., Washington, DC, 20049, USA

    Charlotte S. Yeh

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  1. Kevin Hawkins
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Correspondence to Kevin Hawkins.

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Hawkins, K., Bottone, F.G., Ozminkowski, R.J. et al. The prevalence of hearing impairment and its burden on the quality of life among adults with Medicare Supplement Insurance. Qual Life Res 21, 1135–1147 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0028-z

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