Balance and Dizziness Problems and Associated Risk Factors Among Older Adults: The AGES-Reykjavik Population-Based Cohort Study, 2002–2011

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chiu M ; Cotch MF ; Della Santina C ; Eiriksdottir G ; Fisher D ; Harris T ; Hoffman H ; Jonsson P ; Launer L ; Li C-M ; Petersen H ; Themann, Christa L.
• Description:
  Introduction: Balance and Dizziness problems (BDP) are among the most common reasons for a visit to a physician's office for adults of all ages. Objective: Estimate prevalence of BDP and falling among older adults and identify risk factors associated with BDP and falling in older adults. Methods: The Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES-RS I) 2002-2006, interviewed and examined a population-based cohort of 5,764 adults aged 66-96 years. Five years later, 3,411 surviving subjects were followed-up in AGES-RS II. Participants were asked about problems during the last 12 months with spinning or vertigo sensations (vertigo); floating, spacey, or tilting sensations (floating); light headedness without a sense of motion (light-headedness); feeling that one will pass out or faint (fainting); blurring of vision when moving head (blurred vision); or feeling off-balance or unsteady (unsteadiness). BDP was positive if respondents said 'yes' to any of the above symptoms. Complete information for BDP was obtained from 2,844 participants. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: In the AGES-RS II cohort, 72 or more years of age, BDP prevalence was 39.9% (35.3% in males, 43.6% in females). The prevalence of each symptom was: vertigo 16.5%, floating 3.1%, light-headedness 10.4%, fainting 7.7%, blurred vision during head movement 3.6%, and unsteadiness 28.6%. BDP symptoms that were most bothersome were unsteadiness 54.8% and vertigo 28.8%. After multivariable adjustment, risk factors independently associated with increased BDP included: memory loss last 12 months (OR=1.94; CI:1.49- 2.54); diabetes (OR=1.43; CI:1.00-2.04); hypertension (OR=1.24; CI:1.02-1.52); coughing-up phlegm in the morning during winter (OR=1.64; CI:1.13-2.37); numbness/sensory loss of complete body side or limb (OR=2.54; CI:1.72-3.76); hip pain, aching or stiffness (OR=1.40; CI: 1.09-1.79); joint pain, aching or stiffness on most days (OR=1.53; CI:1.24- 1.88); having fallen and landed on the floor (OR=1.78; CI:1.42-2.24); tinnitus (OR=1.31; CI:1.04-1.66); and self-reported hearing loss (OR=1.31; CI:1.07-1.60). Prevalence of falling during the last 12 months was 23.0% (31.4% in males, 17.4% in females). Of those who fell more than once in the last year, 70.2% reported BDP. After adjusting for confounders, BDP was significantly associated with risk of falling (OR=1.51; CI:1.14-2.00). Conclusions: Dizziness is a broad term used to describe a variety of sensations. This study is based on specific characterization of BDP symptoms. In older adults, BDP is common, disabling, costly, and it confers greatly increased risk of falling. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Aging Cohort Studies Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Nervous System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Age Factors Auditory System Cognitive Function Cohort Studies Hearing Impairment Hearing Loss Risk Factors
• ISSN:
  0742-3152
• Publisher:
  Association for Research in Otolaryngology
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Maryland ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  39
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060983
• Citation:
  Abstr Midwinter Res Meet Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2016 Feb; 39:284
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Abstracts of the 39th Midwinter Research Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, Febuary 20-24, 2016, San Diego, California
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5716c643bee30e41be1dde001759c6dbd764198b28269ca6bc9c5b7536b60b1a4008762104de18221a38418566c7a1b00322a7d61a24105e0ddd2883e49f10e2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224699/cdc_224699_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 828.33 KB ]