Association Between Psoriasis with Arthritis and Hearing Impairment in US Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Emerging data has linked inflammatory arthritis with hearing impairment (HI). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between psoriasis with arthritis (PsA) and HI in the US population. Given the known association of HI and depression, a secondary aim is to investigate the effect of PsA on mental well-being.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for adults aged ≥ 20 years (n = 10,747). Association of PsA with above outcomes was examined using multivariable generalized linear and ordinal logistic regression models, adjusted for demographics and medical comorbidities. Structural equation models examined the extent to which HI mediated the effect of PsA on mental health.

RESULTS: Individuals with PsA were more likely to report hearing difficulties (OR 1.50, p = 0.043), visit a mental health provider (OR 1.62, p = 0.084), have 1.62 more days of poor mental health over the previous month (p = 0.033), and have depression (OR 2.01, p = 0.015) compared to controls. HI mediated 6.5%, 8.3%, and 5.0% of the effect of PsA on the above mental health outcomes, respectively.

CONCLUSION: PsA is independently associated with a significantly increased risk of HI, which partially mediates an association with worsened psychiatric outcomes.