The Work of Well-Being: How People Work to Support Their Well-Being After Stroke.

Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, particularly among middle‐aged and older adults [], and its negative impact on health leads to a growing economic burden [, ]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.5 billion people—one in five globally—live with some degree of HL, and this number is expected to increase substantially as the populations age []. Furthermore, HL leads to cognitive decline or depression [, ] and frailty or falls [], exacerbating the economic burden. Therefore, HL is a major public health priority that should be prevented whenever possible. The risk factors for HL range from well‐established factors to possible factors with inconsistent evidence across studies. The well‐established risk factors for HL include aging, sex (male), noise exposure, and heredity. Additionally, several risk factors for HL have been consistently reported: low socioeconomic status (SES), such as lower educational attainment and lower income, and lifestyle factors, including smoking and excessive alcohol consumption [, , , , , , , ]. Regarding non‐communicable diseases, the associations of hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) with hearing loss (HL) remain inconsistent across studies, with some reporting no association, whereas others have demonstrated significant associations, particularly when these conditions are poorly controlled [, , , , , , , ]. Beyond these factors, findings regarding other possible risk factors vary across studies, and such discrepancies may be attributed to differences in ethnicity or regional contexts [, ]. This finding highlights the need for further studies in specific populations. Japan, one of the countries with a high aging rate, has experienced a significant impact of HL on its population. Its prevalence begins to rise in the 50s and reaches approximately 70% among individuals aged 70 years and older, with higher prevalence among males than among females [, ]. Previous studies in Japan have identified possible risk factors, such as poor nutritional status, excessive obesity, elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels, and elevated γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GTP) levels, based on data from cohort studies or Japan's unique health check‐up system [, , , ]. Health check‐ups, conducted annually for employees and individuals aged 40–74 years, collect standardized questionnaire data on lifestyle and medical history, along with various clinical tests, including blood and hearing tests, in order to detect diseases in their earlier stages and maintain health [, , ]. This system provides valuable opportunities for large‐scale epidemiological studies on HL.