Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults

David S. Chen; Joshua Betz; Kristine Yaffe; Hilsa N. Ayonayon; Stephen Kritchevsky; Kathryn R. Martin; Tamara B. Harris; Elizabeth Purchase-Helzner; Suzanne Satterfield; Qian-Li Xue; Sheila Pratt; Eleanor M. Simonsick; Frank R. Lin; Health ABC study

doi:10.1093/gerona/glu207

Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults

David S. Chen, Joshua Betz, Kristine Yaffe, Hilsa N. Ayonayon, Stephen Kritchevsky, Kathryn R. Martin, Tamara B. Harris, Elizabeth Purchase-Helzner, Suzanne Satterfield, Qian-Li Xue, Sheila Pratt, Eleanor M. Simonsick, Frank R. Lin^*, Health ABC study

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

138 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Identifying factors associated with functional declines in older adults is important given the aging of the population. We investigated if hearing impairment is independently associated with objectively measured declines in physical functioning in a community-based sample of older adults.

Methods: Prospective observational study of 2,190 individuals from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Participants were followed annually for up to 11 visits. Hearing was measured with pure-tone audiometry. Physical functioning and gait speed were measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Incident disability and requirement for nursing care were assessed semiannually through self-report.

Results: In a mixed-effects model, greater hearing impairment was associated with poorer physical functioning. At both Visit 1 and Visit 11, SPPB scores were lower in individuals with mild (10.14 [95% CI 10.04-10.25], p <.01; 7.35 [95% CI 7.12-7.58], p <.05) and moderate or greater hearing impairment (10.04 [95% CI 9.90-10.19], p <.01; 7.00 [95% CI 6.69-7.32], p <.01) than scores in normal hearing individuals (10.36 [95% CI 10.26-10.46]; 7.71 [95% CI 7.49-7.92]). We observed that women with moderate or greater hearing impairment had a 31% increased risk of incident disability (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.31 [95% CI 1.08-1.60], p <.01) and a 31% increased risk of incident nursing care requirement (HR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.05-1.62], p = .02) compared to women with normal hearing.

Conclusions: Hearing impairment is independently associated with poorer objective physical functioning in older adults, and a 31% increased risk for incident disability and need for nursing care in women.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	654-661
Number of pages	8
Journal	The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume	70
Issue number	5
Early online date	3 Dec 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu207
Publication status	Published - May 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding sources contributed to design and conduct of the study, management and analysis of the data, as well as the preparation and review of the manuscript. Dr Frank Lin reports being a consultant to Cochlear, serving on the scientific advisory board for Autifony and Pfizer, and being a speaker for Med El and Amplifon. Dr Sheila Pratt was supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA. However, the contents of this manuscript do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

Keywords

Physical function
Physical performance
Epidemiology
LOWER-EXTREMITY FUNCTION
GAIT SPEED DECLINE
PERFORMANCE BATTERY
BODY-COMPOSITION
UNITED-STATES
SUBSEQUENT DISABILITY
VESTIBULAR FUNCTION
PROGNOSTIC VALUE
HEALTH
SURVIVAL

Access to Document

10.1093/gerona/glu207Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

Chen, D. S., Betz, J., Yaffe, K., Ayonayon, H. N., Kritchevsky, S., Martin, K. R., Harris, T. B., Purchase-Helzner, E., Satterfield, S., Xue, Q.-L., Pratt, S., Simonsick, E. M., Lin, F. R., & Health ABC study (2015). Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 70(5), 654-661. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu207

Chen, DS, Betz, J, Yaffe, K, Ayonayon, HN, Kritchevsky, S, Martin, KR, Harris, TB, Purchase-Helzner, E, Satterfield, S, Xue, Q-L, Pratt, S, Simonsick, EM, Lin, FR & Health ABC study 2015, 'Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults', The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 654-661. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu207

@article{f9180f7f24f5423a975bfe5b603f3183,

title = "Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults",

abstract = "Background: Identifying factors associated with functional declines in older adults is important given the aging of the population. We investigated if hearing impairment is independently associated with objectively measured declines in physical functioning in a community-based sample of older adults.Methods: Prospective observational study of 2,190 individuals from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Participants were followed annually for up to 11 visits. Hearing was measured with pure-tone audiometry. Physical functioning and gait speed were measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Incident disability and requirement for nursing care were assessed semiannually through self-report.Results: In a mixed-effects model, greater hearing impairment was associated with poorer physical functioning. At both Visit 1 and Visit 11, SPPB scores were lower in individuals with mild (10.14 [95% CI 10.04-10.25], p <.01; 7.35 [95% CI 7.12-7.58], p <.05) and moderate or greater hearing impairment (10.04 [95% CI 9.90-10.19], p <.01; 7.00 [95% CI 6.69-7.32], p <.01) than scores in normal hearing individuals (10.36 [95% CI 10.26-10.46]; 7.71 [95% CI 7.49-7.92]). We observed that women with moderate or greater hearing impairment had a 31% increased risk of incident disability (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.31 [95% CI 1.08-1.60], p <.01) and a 31% increased risk of incident nursing care requirement (HR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.05-1.62], p = .02) compared to women with normal hearing.Conclusions: Hearing impairment is independently associated with poorer objective physical functioning in older adults, and a 31% increased risk for incident disability and need for nursing care in women.",

keywords = "Physical function, Physical performance, Epidemiology, LOWER-EXTREMITY FUNCTION, GAIT SPEED DECLINE, PERFORMANCE BATTERY, BODY-COMPOSITION, UNITED-STATES, SUBSEQUENT DISABILITY, VESTIBULAR FUNCTION, PROGNOSTIC VALUE, HEALTH, SURVIVAL",

author = "Chen, {David S.} and Joshua Betz and Kristine Yaffe and Ayonayon, {Hilsa N.} and Stephen Kritchevsky and Martin, {Kathryn R.} and Harris, {Tamara B.} and Elizabeth Purchase-Helzner and Suzanne Satterfield and Qian-Li Xue and Sheila Pratt and Simonsick, {Eleanor M.} and Lin, {Frank R.} and {Health ABC study}",

note = "Funding sources contributed to design and conduct of the study, management and analysis of the data, as well as the preparation and review of the manuscript. Dr Frank Lin reports being a consultant to Cochlear, serving on the scientific advisory board for Autifony and Pfizer, and being a speaker for Med El and Amplifon. Dr Sheila Pratt was supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA. However, the contents of this manuscript do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.",

year = "2015",

month = may,

doi = "10.1093/gerona/glu207",

language = "English",

volume = "70",

pages = "654--661",

journal = "The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences",

issn = "1079-5006",

publisher = "OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults

AU - Chen, David S.

AU - Betz, Joshua

AU - Yaffe, Kristine

AU - Ayonayon, Hilsa N.

AU - Kritchevsky, Stephen

AU - Martin, Kathryn R.

AU - Harris, Tamara B.

AU - Purchase-Helzner, Elizabeth

AU - Satterfield, Suzanne

AU - Xue, Qian-Li

AU - Pratt, Sheila

AU - Simonsick, Eleanor M.

AU - Lin, Frank R.

AU - Health ABC study

N1 - Funding sources contributed to design and conduct of the study, management and analysis of the data, as well as the preparation and review of the manuscript. Dr Frank Lin reports being a consultant to Cochlear, serving on the scientific advisory board for Autifony and Pfizer, and being a speaker for Med El and Amplifon. Dr Sheila Pratt was supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA. However, the contents of this manuscript do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

PY - 2015/5

Y1 - 2015/5

N2 - Background: Identifying factors associated with functional declines in older adults is important given the aging of the population. We investigated if hearing impairment is independently associated with objectively measured declines in physical functioning in a community-based sample of older adults.Methods: Prospective observational study of 2,190 individuals from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Participants were followed annually for up to 11 visits. Hearing was measured with pure-tone audiometry. Physical functioning and gait speed were measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Incident disability and requirement for nursing care were assessed semiannually through self-report.Results: In a mixed-effects model, greater hearing impairment was associated with poorer physical functioning. At both Visit 1 and Visit 11, SPPB scores were lower in individuals with mild (10.14 [95% CI 10.04-10.25], p <.01; 7.35 [95% CI 7.12-7.58], p <.05) and moderate or greater hearing impairment (10.04 [95% CI 9.90-10.19], p <.01; 7.00 [95% CI 6.69-7.32], p <.01) than scores in normal hearing individuals (10.36 [95% CI 10.26-10.46]; 7.71 [95% CI 7.49-7.92]). We observed that women with moderate or greater hearing impairment had a 31% increased risk of incident disability (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.31 [95% CI 1.08-1.60], p <.01) and a 31% increased risk of incident nursing care requirement (HR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.05-1.62], p = .02) compared to women with normal hearing.Conclusions: Hearing impairment is independently associated with poorer objective physical functioning in older adults, and a 31% increased risk for incident disability and need for nursing care in women.

AB - Background: Identifying factors associated with functional declines in older adults is important given the aging of the population. We investigated if hearing impairment is independently associated with objectively measured declines in physical functioning in a community-based sample of older adults.Methods: Prospective observational study of 2,190 individuals from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Participants were followed annually for up to 11 visits. Hearing was measured with pure-tone audiometry. Physical functioning and gait speed were measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Incident disability and requirement for nursing care were assessed semiannually through self-report.Results: In a mixed-effects model, greater hearing impairment was associated with poorer physical functioning. At both Visit 1 and Visit 11, SPPB scores were lower in individuals with mild (10.14 [95% CI 10.04-10.25], p <.01; 7.35 [95% CI 7.12-7.58], p <.05) and moderate or greater hearing impairment (10.04 [95% CI 9.90-10.19], p <.01; 7.00 [95% CI 6.69-7.32], p <.01) than scores in normal hearing individuals (10.36 [95% CI 10.26-10.46]; 7.71 [95% CI 7.49-7.92]). We observed that women with moderate or greater hearing impairment had a 31% increased risk of incident disability (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.31 [95% CI 1.08-1.60], p <.01) and a 31% increased risk of incident nursing care requirement (HR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.05-1.62], p = .02) compared to women with normal hearing.Conclusions: Hearing impairment is independently associated with poorer objective physical functioning in older adults, and a 31% increased risk for incident disability and need for nursing care in women.

KW - Physical function

KW - Physical performance

KW - Epidemiology

KW - LOWER-EXTREMITY FUNCTION

KW - GAIT SPEED DECLINE

KW - PERFORMANCE BATTERY

KW - BODY-COMPOSITION

KW - UNITED-STATES

KW - SUBSEQUENT DISABILITY

KW - VESTIBULAR FUNCTION

KW - PROGNOSTIC VALUE

KW - HEALTH

KW - SURVIVAL

U2 - 10.1093/gerona/glu207

DO - 10.1093/gerona/glu207

M3 - Article

SN - 1079-5006

VL - 70

SP - 654

EP - 661

JO - The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

JF - The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

IS - 5

ER -

Association of Hearing Impairment with Declines in Physical Functioning and the Risk of Disability in Older Adults

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this