Association between headache and hearing impairment in middle-aged and older adults in China health and retirement longitudinal study.

Global population aging presents remarkable socioeconomic and public health challenges worldwide. Headache rank as the second leading global cause of disability and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hearing impairment (HI). Nevertheless, the precise relationship between these conditions remains poorly researched, particularly in aging populations. This study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) among adults aged 45 years and older. Participants with pre-existing HI or missing data were excluded, resulting in a final sample of 3,872 individuals. Headache was assessed via questionnaire, and HI was evaluated through self-reports. The study adjusted for potential confounders, including sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and chronic conditions, and employed multivariable logistic regression models to investigate the association between headache and HI. A total of 3,872 participants were included in the final analysis. A significant positive association was found between headache and HI, which persisted after adjusting for confounders (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.34-2.08; P < 0.001). Gender-stratified analyses revealed a stronger association among males (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.43-3.31; P < 0.001) compared to females (OR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.15-1.96; P = 0.003). Subgroup analyses did not demonstrate significant interaction effect. This study demonstrates a significant association between headache and HI, suggesting that headache may contribute to HI through vascular mechanisms. Early intervention for headache may help prevent HI. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and validate these findings across diverse populations.