Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T15:19:04.905Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Investigating the risk factors of vestibular dysfunction and the relationship with presbyacusis in Singapore

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2016

J L Tan*
Affiliation:
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
J Tang
Affiliation:
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
S Lo
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
S Yeak
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
*
Address for correspondence: Dr J L Tan, ENT Department, Level 5, Annex Building, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore308433 Fax: +65 63577749 E-mail: tanjianli87@gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vestibular dysfunction in the Singaporean elderly and its association with presbyacusis, age and other associated risk factors.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was undertaken in a tertiary otorhinolaryngology department and the community. Healthy adults aged 40 years and above who participated in the institution's community presbyacusis screening programme were invited to participate. The main outcome measures including pure tone audiometry and vestibular assessment were obtained using a modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance.

Results:

The prevalence of vestibular dysfunction and presbyacusis in the study population of 216 participants was 30.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 24.0 to 36.2 per cent) and 55.6 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 49.0 to 62.2 per cent), respectively. The median age was 60 years (range, 40–86 years). The adjusted odds ratio for vestibular dysfunction increased by 6.2 per cent with every year of life (p < 0.05), and by 3.14 times in the presence of presbyacusis (p < 0.05). After adjusting for age and presbyacusis, diabetes (n = 30), hypertension (n = 85), hypercholesteraemia (n = 75), cardiac disease (n = 14), stroke (n = 7) and smoking (n = 55) were associated with an increased odds ratio for vestibular dysfunction which did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Vestibular dysfunction is independently associated with ageing and presbyacusis. Further research into the benefits of additional screening for vestibular dysfunction in elderly presbyacusis patients is warranted.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Agrawal, Y, Carey, JP, Della Santina, CC, Schubert, MC, Minor, LB. Disorders of balance and vestibular function in US adults: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2004. Arch Intern Med 2009;169:938–44CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2 Shumway-Cook, A, FB, Horak. Assessing the influence of sensory interaction of balance, Suggestion from the field. Phys Ther 1986;66:1548–50CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Havia, M, Kentala, E, Pyykkö, I. Prevalence of Meniere's disease in general population of Southern Finland. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005;133:762–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Yardley, L, Owen, N, Nazareth, I, Luxon, L. Prevalence and presentation of dizziness in a general practice community sample of working age people. Br J Gen Pract 1998;48:1131–5Google Scholar
5 Neuhauser, HK, von Brevern, M, Radtke, A, Lezius, F, Feldmann, M, Ziese, T et al. Epidemiology of vestibular vertigo: a neurotologic survey of the general population. Neurology 2005;65:898904 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6 Dobie, RA. Does computerized dynamic posturography help us care for our patients? Am J Otol 1997;18:108–12Google ScholarPubMed
7 Hageman, PA, Leibowitz, JM, Blanke, D. Age and gender effects on postural control measures. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1995;76:961–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Girardi, M, Konrad, HR, Amin, M, Hughes, LF. Predicting fall risks in an elderly population: computer dynamic posturography versus electronystagmography test results. Laryngoscope 2001;111:1528–32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9 Johnsson, LG, Hawkins, JE Jr. Sensory and neural degeneration with aging, as seen in microdissections of the human inner ear. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1972;81:179–93CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10 Gawron, W, Pospiech, L, Orendorz-Fraczkowska, K, Noczynska, A. Are there any disturbances in vestibular organ of children and young adults with Type I diabetes? Diabetologia 2002;45:728–34CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11 Klagenberg, KF, Zeigelboim, BS, Jurkiewicz, AL, Martins-Bassetto, J. Vestibulocochlear manifestations in patients with type I diabetes mellitus. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2007;73:353–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Schubert, MC, Migliaccio, AA, Clendaniel, RA, Allak, A, Carey, JP. Mechanism of dynamic visual acuity recovery with vestibular rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008;89:500–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed