OBJECTIVE: to identify socio-economic, behavioural and disease status risks for impaired balance or self-reported dizziness in older people from a large population-based study. METHODS: data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), for 2,925 participants, aged 65+. Multivariate models were used to assess the associations between balance and dizziness and disease status, health behaviours, grip strength and socio-economic markers. RESULTS: there were 21.5% (n = 619) participants with impaired balance and 11.1% (n = 375) reported dizziness. Impaired balance was statistically significantly associated with age, diabetes (OR = 1.53), arthritis (OR = 1.33), eyesight (OR = 1.94) and grip strength. The wealthiest 20% of participants were less likely to have impaired balance than the poorest 20% (OR = 0.46). Dizziness problems were not associated with age, gender or wealth, but were significantly associated with an abnormal heart rhythm (OR = 1.85), hearing (OR = 1.81), eyesight (OR = 1.72) and grip strength. CONCLUSION: the epidemiology of impaired balance differs from that of dizziness, and risk assessment approaches to prevent falls may need to elicit information on different problem-specific factors. Impaired balance test performance in older people may be added to the many outcomes showing strong socio-economic gradients.
OBJECTIVE: to identify socio-economic, behavioural and disease status risks for impaired balance or self-reported dizziness in older people from a large population-based study. METHODS: data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), for 2,925 participants, aged 65+. Multivariate models were used to assess the associations between balance and dizziness and disease status, health behaviours, grip strength and socio-economic markers. RESULTS: there were 21.5% (n = 619) participants with impaired balance and 11.1% (n = 375) reported dizziness. Impaired balance was statistically significantly associated with age, diabetes (OR = 1.53), arthritis (OR = 1.33), eyesight (OR = 1.94) and grip strength. The wealthiest 20% of participants were less likely to have impaired balance than the poorest 20% (OR = 0.46). Dizziness problems were not associated with age, gender or wealth, but were significantly associated with an abnormal heart rhythm (OR = 1.85), hearing (OR = 1.81), eyesight (OR = 1.72) and grip strength. CONCLUSION: the epidemiology of impaired balance differs from that of dizziness, and risk assessment approaches to prevent falls may need to elicit information on different problem-specific factors. Impaired balance test performance in older people may be added to the many outcomes showing strong socio-economic gradients.
Authors: Helen S Cohen; Ajitkumar P Mulavara; Jasmine Stitz; Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar; Susan P Williams; Brian T Peters; Jacob J Bloomberg Journal: Otol Neurotol Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 2.311
Authors: Bryan K Ward; Maha T Mohammed; Jennifer S Brach; Stephane A Studenski; Susan L Whitney; Joseph M Furman Journal: Otol Neurotol Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 2.311
Authors: Otto R Maarsingh; Jacquelien Dros; François G Schellevis; Henk C van Weert; Patrick J Bindels; Henriette E van der Horst Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2010-01-11 Impact factor: 2.497