Browsing by Author "Tweed, Ted S."

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Cadmium, obesity, and education, and the 10-year incidence of hearing impairment: The beaver dam offspring study
(1970-01-01)
Dalton, Dayna S.
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Schubert, Carla R.
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Pinto, Alex
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Fischer, Mary E.
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Huang, Guan-Hua
Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the 10-year incidence of hearing impairment (HI) and associated risk factors in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study (BOSS; 2004-present), a large middle-aged cohort followed for 10 years. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Hearing thresholds were measured at baseline (2005-2008) and 5- (2010-2013) and 10-year (2015-2017) follow-up examinations. HI was defined as a pure-tone average >25 dB HL in either ear. BOSS participants free of HI at baseline with at least one follow-up examination (N = 2,065) were included. Potential risk factors evaluated included cardiovascular measures, health history, lifestyle factors, inflammatory markers, vitamins D and B12, lead, and cadmium. Results Participants were 21 to 79 years (mean age = 47.9 years) at baseline. The 10-year cumulative HI incidence was 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.7-19.2) and was twice as likely in men (24.4%, 95% CI: 21.5-27.7) than in women (12.2%, 95% CI: 10.3-14.3). In a multivariable adjusted model, age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.38-1.59, per 5 years), male sex (HR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.91-3.18), less than a college education (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02-1.79), body mass index (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, per kg/m(2)), and higher cadmium levels (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.05-1.92, quintile 5 vs. quintiles 1-4) were associated with the 10-year cumulative incidence of HI. There was no association between high lead levels, vitamins D or B12, and 10-year incidence of HI. Conclusions In addition to age and sex, obesity, education, and blood cadmium levels were associated with increased incidence of HI. These prospective results add to evidence that age-related HI is a multifactorial preventable disorder. Level of Evidence 2b Laryngoscope, 2019
Generational Differences in the Reporting of Tinnitus
(2012-09-01)
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, Ronald
Objectives: Recent research suggests that hearing impairment is declining among older adults compared with earlier generations of the same age. Tinnitus is often associated with hearing impairment, so one might hypothesize that the prevalence of tinnitus is declining in a similar manner. The purpose of this study was to use multigenerational data with repeated measures to determine whether the prevalence of tinnitus is declining among more recent generations. Design: Using data from the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (1993-1995, 1998-2000, 2003-2005, and 2009-2010) and the Beaver Dam Offspring Study (2005-2008), the authors examined birth cohort patterns in the report of tinnitus for adults aged 45 years and older (n = 12,689 observations from 5764 participants). Participants were classified as having tinnitus if they reported tinnitus in the past year of at least moderate severity or that caused difficulty falling asleep. A low-frequency (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) and high-frequency (3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz) pure tone average from the worse ear was used to summarize hearing status. Other potential risk factors for tinnitus were also explored to determine if changes in the prevalence of these factors over time could explain any observed birth cohort differences in the prevalence of tinnitus. These included the following: education, history of head injury, history of doctor-diagnosed ear infections, history of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke, or angina), current noisy job, longest-held job, target shooting in the past year, number of concerts ever attended, alcohol use in the past year, doctor diagnosis of arthritis, current aspirin use, regular exercise, and consulting with a physician in the past year about any hearing/ear problem. Birth cohort effects were modeled with alternating logistic regression models which use generalized estimating equations to adjust for correlation among repeated measurements over time that are nested within families. Results: The report of tinnitus tended to increase with more recent birth cohorts compared with earlier birth cohorts. For example, at ages 55 to 59 years, 7.6% of participants born between 1935 and 1939 reported tinnitus, compared with 11.0% of those born in 1940 to 1944, 13.6% of those born between 1945 and 1949, and 17.5% of those born between 1950 and 1954. Similarly, at ages 65 to 69 years, 7.9% of participants born between 1925 and 1929 reported tinnitus, compared with 10.0% of those born between 1930 and 1934, 11.9% of those born between 1935 and 1939, and 13.7% of those born between 1940 and 1944. Final alternating logistic regression model results indicated that, on average, after adjusting for age and other factors, participants in a given generation were significantly more likely to report tinnitus than participants from a generation 20 years earlier (odds ratio = 1.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.44, 2.21). Conclusions: Increased reports of tinnitus may reflect increased prevalence of symptoms, increased awareness of symptoms, or higher health expectations among more recent generations of adults. Regardless of the reasons, the increasing prevalence of tinnitus suggests that health care providers may see an increased number of patients bothered by this common but little understood symptom.
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.
Olfactory Impairment in Adults The Beaver Dam Experience
(2009)
Schubert, Carla R.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Murphy, Claire
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Huang, Guan-Hua
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Klein, Barbara E. K.
Olfactory function maybe important for environmental and nutritional safety and enjoyment. Population-based epidemiological studies of olfaction are needed to understand the magnitude of the health burden, identify modifiable risk factors, and develop and test prevention and treatment strategies for olfactory impairment. However, measuring olfaction in large studies is challenging, requiring repeatable, efficient methods that can measure change over time. Two large cohort studies, the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (EHLS) and the Beaver Dam Offspring Study (BOSS), included olfactory testing. In both studies, the San Diego Odor Identification Test (SDOIT) was used to measure olfaction. Subjects were asked to identify eight common household odors (such as coffee and chocolate). Olfactory impairment was defined as correctly identifying fewer than six out of eight odorants after two trials. The EHLS participants were age 53-95 years at the time of the first measurement (1998-2000), and participants in the BOSS were age 21-84 years. The prevalence of olfactory impairment in the EHLS was 25% overall, more common in men than women, and increased with age. Five years later olfaction was measured a second time and the majority (84%) of the EHLS participants were classified the same. Among those with impairment at the base line nearly one-third (31%) improved to unimpaired. This heterogeneity in olfactory impairment has unique implications for data analyses and predicting outcomes and associations. Preliminary data from the BOSS suggest the prevalence of olfactory impairment may be lower in younger generations. All these factors point to a continuing need for epidemiological studies of olfaction.
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
Sensorineural Impairments, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and 10-Year Incidence of Cognitive Impairment and Decline in Midlife: The Beaver Dam Offspring Study
(2019-11-01)
Schubert, Carla R.
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Cruickshanks, Karen J.
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Fischer, Mary E.
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Pinto, A. Alex
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Chen, Yanjun
Background: Sensorineural impairments and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and disease (CVD) in midlife may be important predictors of future cognitive health, but longitudinal studies that include multiple sensorineural measures in middle-aged adults are lacking. Methods: Hearing, vision, and olfaction, and CVRF and CVD were measured at the Beaver Dam Offspring Study baseline (2005-2008) examination. The Mini-Mental State Examination and Trail Making Tests A and B were administered at all phases and additional cognitive function measures were obtained at 5 (2010-2013) and 10 years (2015-2017). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations between baseline sensorineural impairments, CVRF, CVD, and 10-year cumulative incidence of cognitive impairment and decline. Results: There were 2,556 participants (22-84 years) without cognitive impairment at baseline and data from at least one follow-up. In a multivariable model including age, sex, education, and head injury, visual impairment (hazard ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval = 1.34, 5.02), olfactory impairment (hazard ratio = 3.18, 95% confidence interval = 1.53, 6.59), CVD (hazard ratio = 2.37, 95% confidence interval = 1.24, 4.52), and not consuming alcohol in the past year (hazard ratio = 2.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.16, 4.19) were associated with the 10-year cumulative incidence of cognitive impairment. Current smoking and diabetes were associated with increased risk, and exercise with decreased risk, of 10-year decline in cognitive function. Conclusions: Visual and olfactory impairments, CVRF, and CVD were associated with the 10-year cumulative incidence of cognitive impairment and decline in middle-aged adults. Identifying modifiable factors associated with cognitive decline and impairment in midlife may provide opportunities for prevention or treatment and improve cognitive health later in life.
Subclinical atherosclerosis and increased risk of hearing impairment
(2015-02-01)
Fischer, Mary E.
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Schubert, Carla R.
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Nondahl, David M.
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Dalton, Dayna S.
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Huang, Guan-Hua
Objective: The study\'s purpose was to test if subclinical atherosclerosis was associated with the risk of developing HI in a large cohort of middle-aged participants. Methods: Study subjects were members of the Beaver Dam Offspring Study (BOSS), a longitudinal study of adult children of participants in the population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (1993-present). BOSS examinations took place in 2005-2008 (baseline) and 2010-2013 (5-year follow-up). The 5-year incidence of hearing impairment was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz > 25 dB Hearing Level (dB HL) in either ear at follow-up among participants at risk (baseline PTA in both ears < = 25 dB HL; n = 2436, mean age = 47.7 years). Atherosclerosis was measured as the mean carotid intima-media thickness and the presence of carotid artery plaque. Results: Among the 1984 participants at-risk with a follow-up audiometric examination, the 5-year incidence of hearing impairment was 8.3% (95% Confidence Interval (C.I.) 7.1, 9.5). With multivariable adjustment, carotid intima- media thickness was positively associated with hearing impairment incidence (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.14 per 0.1 mm, 95% C.I. 1.04, 1.24). The number of sites (0-6) with plaque was also positively associated with the incidence of impairment (RR = 1.16 per site, 95% C.I. 1.01, 1.32). Conclusion: Atherosclerosis was associated with the 5-year incidence of hearing impairment in this predominantly middle-aged cohort. Interventions targeting atherosclerosis prevention may help to prevent or delay the onset of hearing impairment. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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.