Ear and Hearing · Nov 12, 2026
Hepatitis C, Hearing Loss, and Healthcare Utilization Patterns, a Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES Data: 1999–2012
By Lokhandwala ZA, Lazar JH, Kilinski JM et al.
Objectives: Hearing loss is a chronic condition in the U.S. with diverse causes, including viral infections, and significantly affects quality of life. Despite the rising incidence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, research on its relationship with hearing loss remains limited. Early and consistent interactions with the healthcare system have been shown to improve outcomes in extrahepatic manifestations of HCV and enhance quality of life. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of HCV history, identified via HCV antibody and RNA testing obtained by the mobile examination center, and hearing loss, measured by pure-tone audiometry, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (1999–2004, 2011–2012) for adults aged 20 to 69. We utilized multivariable logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for important covariates. Results were stratified by degree of healthcare utilization. Results: Among 6705 participants, hearing loss prevalence was 27.7% in those with HCV versus 12.7% in those without. The adjusted OR for hearing loss in individuals with HCV was 1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.06, 3.10). Notably, the magnitude of association between HCV history and hearing loss was higher in the low healthcare utilization group than in the high healthcare utilization group (aOR: 2.82 versus 0.72). Conclusions: Our findings suggest an association between HCV and hearing loss, with healthcare utilization modifying this relationship. This study fills a gap in the literature and highlights the need for increased clinical monitoring of hearing health in individuals who have had an HCV infection.