Browsing by Author "Nieto, F. Javier"

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Carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive function in midlife: The beaver dam offspring study
(2011-11-01)
Zhong, Wenjun
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Huang, Guan-Hua
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
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Klein, Ronald
Background: Atherosclerosis may be associated with cognitive function; however the studies are few, especially among midlife adults. Methods: Participants in the beaver dam offspring study who had cognitive test data and gradable carotid artery ultrasound scans were included (n = 2794, mean age: 49 years). Atherosclerosis was measured by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaque. Cognitive function was measured by the trail making test (TMT), grooved pegboard test (GPT) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Generalized cognitive function was defined by a summary score calculated from the TMT and GPT. Linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive function tests. Results: Larger IMT was associated with lower GPT, MMSE and the summary score adjusting for multiple factors, the coefficients were: 13.8s (p < 0.0001), -0.6 (p = 0.007), and 0.47 (p = 0.01), respectively for 1 mm increase in IMT. Plaque scores were significantly associated with TMT-B, GPT, MMSE, and the summary score adjusting for age, sex and education. The associations remained statistically significant after further adjustments except for the association with TMT-B, which was attenuated and no longer significant. Conclusions: Our results show the significant associations between markers of carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive function in a cohort of persons aged 21-84 years. Longitudinal studies are needed to further examine these associations. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Measuring Refraction in Adults in Epidemiological Studies
(2010-01-01)
Krantz, Elizabeth M.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
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Klein, Ronald
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Huang, Guan-Hua
Objective: To compare refraction measured before and after pharmacologic cycloplegia. Methods: This study used preliminary data from the Beaver Dam Offspring Study, which includes adult children of participants in the population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study of older adults living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Data were available for 5018 eyes of 2529 participants. Refraction was defined by the spherical equivalent (SE), using autorefractor readings. Differences were calculated as the SE after drops were administered minus the SE before drops were administered. Myopia was defined as SE of -1 diopter (D) or less; emmetropia, as SE more than -1 D and less than 1 D; and hyperopia, as SE of 1 D or more. Results: The mean age was 48 years (range, 22-84 years). The mean difference in SE between measurements before and after cycloplegia was 0.29 D (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.31). The difference decreased with age and varied by refractive status for participants younger than 50 years, with the largest differences observed among young persons with hyperopic refractive errors. Across all age groups, agreement on classifications of refraction was high (84%-92%). Conclusions: Overall, clinically inconsequential differences were observed between SEs beforeandafter pharmacologic cycloplegia, suggesting that cycloplegia may not be necessary in epidemiological studies of refraction in adults.
Measuring Taste Impairment in Epidemiologic Studies The Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2008-10-01)
Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Schubert, Carla R.
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Snyder, Derek J.
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Bartoshuk, Linda M.
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Acher, Charles W.
OBESITY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN THE BEAVER DAM OFFSPRING STUDY POPULATION
(2010-09-01)
Zhong, Wenjun
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Schubert, Carla R.
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Nieto, F. Javier
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Huang, Guan-Hua
Background: Depression and obesity are both important public health problems. However, it is not clear whether obesity contributes to depression. Our study aims to evaluate the association between obesity and possible depression. Methods: During the Beaver Dam Offspring Study examination, participants' body weight and height were measured with a Detecto 758C digital scale with height bar, and depression symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale. Other relevant information, such as demographic factors, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and use of antidepressants, was also collected during the examination. There were 2,641 participants included in the analyses. Results: Obesity was associated with possible depression measured by CES-D Scale (OR= 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3-2.0) after controlling for age and gender. The association remained similar after further adjustments. Obesity was significantly associated with all four domains measured by CES-D Scale after controlling for age and sex, with the largest effect on "Somatic Complaints" domain (beta .15, 95% CI: 0.0836-0.223). The association with "Interpersonal Difficulties" was not significant after further adjustments. Conclusions: Obesity was associated with a higher risk of possible depression and had different influences on specific domains of depression symptoms measured by CES-D Scale. These findings suggest the need for longitudinal studies on the effects of obesity on specific depression symptoms. Depression and Anxiety 27:846-851, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Olfactory Impairment in Adults: The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study and the Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2008-10-01)
Schubert, Carla R.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Murphy, Claire
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Acher, Charles W.
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Huang, Guan-Hua
Taste Intensity in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2013-06-01)
Fischer, Mary E.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Schubert, Carla R.
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Pinto, Alex
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine the distribution of the perceived intensity of salt, sweet, sour, and bitter in a large population and to investigate factors associated with perceived taste intensity. Study Design: Cross-sectional population. Methods: Subjects (n = 2,374; mean age, 48.8 years) were participants in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study examined during 2005 to 2008. Perceived taste intensity was measured using paper disks and a general labeled magnitude scale. Multiple linear regression was performed. Results: Mean intensity ratings were: salt = 27.2 (standard deviation [SD] = 18.5), sweet = 0.4 (SD = 15.0), sour = 35.7 (SD = 21.4), and bitter = 49.6 (SD 23.3). Females and those with less than a college degree education rated tastes stronger. With adjustment for age, sex, and education, stronger perceived sour and bitter intensities were related to current smoking (sour: B = 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4 to 5.2; bitter: B = 2.8, 95% CI, 0.3 to 5.4) and lipid-lowering medications (sour: B = 5.1, 95% CI, 2.5 to 7.6; bitter: B = 3.2, 95% CI, 0.6 to 5.8). Alcohol consumption in the past year was related to weaker salt (B = -2.8, 95% CI, -5.3 to -0.3) and sweet intensity ratings (B = -2.3, 95% CI, -4.3 to -0.3), whereas olfactory impairment was associated with higher sweet ratings (B = 4.7, 95% CI, 1.4 to 7.9). Conclusions: Perceived intensities were strongest for bitter and weakest for sweet. Sex and education were associated with each taste, whereas age did not demonstrate a consistent relationship. Associations with other factors differed by tast-ants, with current smoking and alcohol consumption being related to some tastes.
The Prevalence of Hearing Impairment and Associated Risk Factors The Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2011-05-01)
Nash, Scott D.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Klein, Ronald
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
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Nieto, F. Javier
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment (HI) and evaluate the cross-sectional associations of environmental and cardiovascular disease risk factors and HI in middle-aged adults. Design: Data were collected as part of the Beaver Dam Offspring Study, an epidemiological cohort study of aging. Hearing impairment was defined as a pure-tone average (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz) greater than 25 db hearing level in either ear. Word recognition in competing message (WRCM) was measured using the Northwestern University No. 6 word list. Questionnaire information about behaviors, environmental factors, and medical history was also collected. Participants: The participants (N = 3285) were offspring of participants of the population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study and ranged in age from 21 to 84 years (mean age, 49 years). Results: The prevalence of HI was 14.1%, and the mean (SD) WRCM score was 64% (15%). In a multivariate model, after age, sex, education, and occupational noise were controlled for, a history of ear surgery (odds ratio [OR], 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.37-7.15), a larger central retinal venular equivalent (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.20-2.60 [fourth quartile vs first quartile]), and a higher hematocrit percentage (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.95 [per 5%]) were independently associated with HI. Factors associated with lower WRCM scores were similar but also included mean intima-media thickness (mean difference, -0.63%; 95% CI, -1.06% to -0.19%; P = .005 [per 0.1 mm]) and statin use (mean difference, -2.09%; 95% CI, -3.58% to -0.60%; P = .005). Conclusions: Hearing impairment is a common condition in middle-aged adults. Cardiovascular disease risk factors may be important correlates of age-related auditory dysfunction.
Tinnitus and its risk factors in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2011-05-01)
Nondahl, David M.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Huang, Guan-Hua
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
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Klein, Ron
Objective: To assess the prevalence of tinnitus along with factors potentially associated with having tinnitus. Design: Data were from the Beaver Dam Offspring Study, an epidemiological cohort study of aging. Study Sample: After a personal interview and audiometric examination, participants (n == 3267, ages 21--84 years) were classified as having tinnitus if in the past year they reported having tinnitus of at least moderate severity or that caused difficulty in falling asleep. Results: The prevalence of tinnitus was 10.6%. In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for age and sex, the following factors were associated with having tinnitus: hearing impairment (Odds Ratio (OR) == 3.20), currently having a loud job (OR == 1.90), history of head injury (OR == 1.84), depressive symptoms (OR == 1.82), history of ear infection (men, OR == 1.75), history of target shooting (OR == 1.56), arthritis (OR == 1.46), and use of NSAID medications (OR == 1.33). For women, ever drinking alcohol in the past year was associated with a decreased risk of having tinnitus (OR == 0.56). Conclusions: These results suggest that tinnitus is a common symptom in this cohort and may be associated with some modifiable risk factors.
Unmet Hearing Health Care Needs: The Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2013-06-01)
Nash, Scott D.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Huang, Guan-Hua
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
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Klein, Ronald
Objectives. We evaluated the use of hearing health care services (hearing testing and hearing aids) by adults aged 21 to 84 years. Methods. Hearing was tested and medical and hearing health histories were obtained as part of the Beaver Dam Offspring Study between 2005 and 2008 (n = 3285, mean age = 49 years). Results. Of the cohort, 34% (55% of participants aged >= 70 years) had a hearing test in the past 5 years. In multivariate modeling, older age, male gender, occupation, occupational noise, and having talked with a doctor about a hearing problem were independently associated with having had a hearing test in the past 5 years. Hearing aid use was low among participants with a moderate to severe hearing impairment (22.5%) and among participants with a hearing handicap (8.6%), as determined by the Hearing Handicap Inventory. Conclusions. Data support the need for improvement in hearing health care. Hearing aids' effectiveness is limited if patients do not acquire them or do not use them once acquired. Future research should focus on developing effective strategies for moving patients from diagnosis to treatment.