170090 20260318155254.0 doi 10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104799 sideral 148659 ART-2026-148659 eng Peribáñez García, Roberto Universidad de Zaragoza Relationship between hearing loss, cognitive impairment, and dementia; meta-analysis of cohort studies in which the exposure factor is hearing loss measured by audiometry 2026 Introduction-objectives: There is a probable relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline and dementia: patients with hearing loss appear to develop cognitive difficulties earlier and more frequently. However, the relationship is not completely clear. A meta-analysis of high-quality studies is needed to clarify the nature of this relationship. Materials and methods: Meta-analysis of cohort studies in which the exposure factor is hearing loss, necessarily measured with pure-tone audiometry, and the outcome is the progression of cognitive decline measured with validated scales or the onset of dementia. The inclusion period for the studies was 2019–2023. Results: Of the 5349 articles identified, 11 cohort studies were included in the systematic review; and 8 in the meta-analysis. In those where the outcome was dementia (expressed as Hazard Ratio [HR]), a statistically significant relationship was found, with an HR of 1.32 (1.30–1.34), with low heterogeneity and a low risk of publication bias. In those where the outcome was expressed as linear regression (beta), no statistically significant results were found. Conclusions: There appears to be a relationship between hearing loss and cognitive impairment/dementia. Other forms of hearing loss (such as central hearing loss) need to be evaluated to fully assess the effect and implications of this relationship. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc-nd https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Rodriguez Rodriguez, Francisco Álvaro Universidad de Zaragoza Ascaso Adiego, Blanca Adiego Leza, María Isabel Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-3265-504X 1013 653 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Cirugía Área Otorrinolaringología 1007 610 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm. Area Medicina 47, 2 (2026), 104799 [9 p.] Am. j. otolaryngol. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY 0196-0709 2367565 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/170090/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2316469 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/170090/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:170090 articulos driver 2026-03-18-13:52:00 ARTICLE