RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to screen for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to construct genetic risk prediction models for NIHL in a Chinese population. METHODS: Four hundred seventy-six subjects with NIHL and 476 matched controls were recruited from a cross-sectional survey on NIHL in China. A total of 83 candidate SNPs were genotyped using nanofluidic dynamic arrays on a Fluidigm platform. NIHL-associated SNPs were screened with a multiple logistic model, and a genetic risk model was constructed based on the genetic risk score (GRS). The results were validated using a prospective cohort population. RESULTS: Seven SNPs in the CDH23, PCDH15, EYA4, MYO1A, KCNMA1, and OTOG genes were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the risk of NIHL, whereas seven other SNPs were marginally (P > 0.05 and P < 0.1) associated with the risk of NIHL. A positive correlation was observed between GRS values and odds ratio (OR) for NIHL. Two SNPs, namely, rs212769 and rs7910544, were validated in the cohort study. Subjects with higher GRS (â§9) showed a higher risk of NIHL incidence with an OR of 2.00 (95% CI = 1.04, 3.86). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic susceptibility plays an important role in the incidence of NIHL. GRS values, which are based on NIHL-associated SNPs. GRS may be utilized in the evaluation of genetic risk for NIHL and in the determination of NIHL susceptibility.