To investigate the relationship between hearing loss and the risk of muscular dystrophy in the middle-aged and elderly, so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of myogenic in this population.

In this study, people aged 45 and above in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2015 were selected as research subjects. Self-reported hearing loss was used to evaluate hearing loss. Based on the consensus of Asian muscular dystrophy working group in 2019, muscular dystrophy was determined. Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the relationship between hearing loss and the risk of myasthenia.

Among 11 528 middle-aged and elderly people, the incidence of baseline hearing loss was 12.8%. During the 4-year follow-up, there were 558 new cases of muscular dystrophy, with an incidence of 6.4%. The results of the Cox proportional hazard model showed that subjects with hearing loss had an increased risk of muscular dystrophy by 31.1% (HR=1.311, 95%CI: 1.059-1.625) compared with those without hearing loss. The results of stratified analysis showed that the relationship between hearing loss and muscular dystrophy was more obvious in women, the elderly, rural household registration, married people, those with education level of junior high school or above, and those with high annual family income.

Hearing loss is related to the increased risk of muscular dystrophy in middle-aged and elderly people in China. Early screening and intervention for hearing loss may help reduce the incidence of future muscular dystrophy.