Comorbidities in individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without hearing loss: a prospective cohort study.
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Phoniatrics and Paediatric Audiology, University Hospital Muenster, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 13, Muenster, 48149, Germany. [email protected].
- 2Department of Phoniatrics and Paediatric Audiology, University Hospital Muenster, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 13, Muenster, 48149, Germany.
- 3Competence Center for Clinical Trials Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
- 4Institute for Health Care Management and Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- 5Institute for Special Needs Education (d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- 6Essener Forschungsinstitut Für Medizinmanagement - EsFoMed GmbH, Essen, Germany.
- 7Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden, Ruhr-University Bochum, Minden, Germany.
- 8South African College of Music, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 9Medical Faculty, Universitas Airlangga , Surabaya, Indonesia.
Abstract
Background
Both intellectual disability (ID) and hearing loss (HL) are associated with a high prevalence of certain comorbidities. However, a combined analysis and overview classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), is lacking. HL is disproportionately common among individuals with ID and often remains undetected. We evaluated: (1) which comorbidities are most common in ID; (2) how disease prevalence differs between those with and without HL; (3) whether the degree of ID or HL influences the number of additional diseases, surgeries, or medication intake.Methods
This study is part of a prospective cohort study investigating effectiveness and feasibility of repeated universal hearing screenings and interventions for people with ID. We included 1,053 participants with ID (37% female, 63% male, and < 1% intersex; age range 1-90 years). Medical history assessment and on-site hearing testing were combined. Diseases were ICD-11-coded. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models assessed associations between common diseases and age, sex, HL, and ID.Results
Nearly all comorbidities observed in participants with HL (prevalence > 5% [= 14]) were more frequent in participants with HL vs. without (13/14), eight showing odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] > 1: visual impairment; hypertension; trisomy 21; obesity; mental, behavioural, or neurodevelopmental disorders; spinal conditions; diabetes; hypothyroidism. Logistic regression underscored associations between: (1) HL and visual impairment, trisomy 21, spinal conditions, hypothyroidism; (2) age and hypertension, obesity, diabetes; (3) female sex and trisomy 21, hypothyroidism. Epilepsy occurred similarly (OR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.65-1.56) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) less often in the HL-subcohort (OR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24-0.73). Trisomy 21 was 3-4 times more frequent in the HL-subcohort, showed a female preponderance and high rates of cardiovascular, metabolic, and visual diseases. Associated comorbidities (mean 2.75 vs 1.65) and multimorbidity (≥ two diseases, 63% vs. 42%) were higher in persons with HL than without, as was medication intake (mean 2.73 vs. 0.84).Conclusion
In our study individuals with ID and HL showed increased comorbidity, multimorbidity, and higher medication intake than those without HL. Heightened awareness and individualised, multidisciplinary management are essential in order to ensure equitable care and prevent secondary complications.
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BibTeX
@article{naghipour2026comorbidities,
title = {{Comorbidities in individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without hearing loss: a prospective cohort study.}},
author = {Awa Naghipour and Corinna Gietmann and Vincent Jankovic and Martin Scharpenberg and Susanna Marie Zielonkowski and Lukas Prein and Katharina Schwarze and Anja Neumann and Susanne Wasmuth and Karolin Schäfer and Christian Speckemeier and Sarah Schlierenkamp and Sandra Werner and Ross Parfitt and Anna Wiegand and Anna-Sophia Schwalen and Werner Brannath and Philipp Mathmann and Katrin Neumann},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-29321-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009901},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comorbidities in individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without hearing loss: a prospective cohort study.
AU - Awa Naghipour
AU - Corinna Gietmann
AU - Vincent Jankovic
AU - Martin Scharpenberg
AU - Susanna Marie Zielonkowski
AU - Lukas Prein
AU - Katharina Schwarze
AU - Anja Neumann
AU - Susanne Wasmuth
AU - Karolin Schäfer
AU - Christian Speckemeier
AU - Sarah Schlierenkamp
AU - Sandra Werner
AU - Ross Parfitt
AU - Anna Wiegand
AU - Anna-Sophia Schwalen
AU - Werner Brannath
AU - Philipp Mathmann
AU - Katrin Neumann
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/26
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-29321-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009901
AB - Background Both intellectual disability (ID) and hearing loss (HL) are associated with a high prevalence of certain comorbidities. However, a combined analysis and overview classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), is lacking. HL is disproportionately common among individuals with ID and often remains undetected. We evaluated: (1) which comorbidities are most common in ID; (2) how disease prevalence differs between those with and without HL; (3) whether the degree of ID or HL influences the number of additional diseases, surgeries, or medication intake.Methods This study is part of a prospective cohort study investigating effectiveness and feasibility of repeated universal hearing screenings and interventions for people with ID. We included 1,053 participants with ID (37% female, 63% male, and < 1% intersex; age range 1-90 years). Medical history assessment and on-site hearing testing were combined. Diseases were ICD-11-coded. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression models assessed associations between common diseases and age, sex, HL, and ID.Results Nearly all comorbidities observed in participants with HL (prevalence > 5% [= 14]) were more frequent in participants with HL vs. without (13/14), eight showing odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] > 1: visual impairment; hypertension; trisomy 21; obesity; mental, behavioural, or neurodevelopmental disorders; spinal conditions; diabetes; hypothyroidism. Logistic regression underscored associations between: (1) HL and visual impairment, trisomy 21, spinal conditions, hypothyroidism; (2) age and hypertension, obesity, diabetes; (3) female sex and trisomy 21, hypothyroidism. Epilepsy occurred similarly (OR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.65-1.56) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) less often in the HL-subcohort (OR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24-0.73). Trisomy 21 was 3-4 times more frequent in the HL-subcohort, showed a female preponderance and high rates of cardiovascular, metabolic, and visual diseases. Associated comorbidities (mean 2.75 vs 1.65) and multimorbidity (≥ two diseases, 63% vs. 42%) were higher in persons with HL than without, as was medication intake (mean 2.73 vs. 0.84).Conclusion In our study individuals with ID and HL showed increased comorbidity, multimorbidity, and higher medication intake than those without HL. Heightened awareness and individualised, multidisciplinary management are essential in order to ensure equitable care and prevent secondary complications.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -