scholarly journals Using Audiometry to Track Atherosclerosis: Measuring a Beneficial Effect of Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis

2020 ◽  
pp. 110-117
Author(s):  
Kylie Greenwald ◽  
Maria Greenwald ◽  
JoAnn Ball

Objectives: To correlate audiometry with atherosclerosis. Presbycusis is associated with age and atherosclerosis; a strong correlation might present opportunities to use audiometry to track atherosclerosis disease. Design: The authors tested 87 elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (age range: 80–101 years; median: 86 years) with a history of methotrexate use for over 20 years. After 50 years of age, hearing loss begins slowly and by the age of 90, the majority of the general population require hearing aids. In the 87 elderly participants, however, hearing was remarkably preserved. Results: The observed cohort of 87 individuals showed better hearing than predicted compared to audiometry historically documented in the elderly (p<0.001). The patients tested one to two decades younger than expected on audiometry and 44% of patients qualified for hearing aids instead of the expected 80%, based on age. Conclusion: The known reduction in atherosclerosis with methotrexate use in rheumatoid arthritis may account for this observed preservation of hearing.1,2 As hearing and atherosclerosis are related, the authors further postulated that routine audiometry may provide a cost-effective screening tool for other populations in future atherosclerosis studies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichtima Chayaopas ◽  
Pornthep Kasemsiri ◽  
Panida Thanawirattananit ◽  
Patorn Piromchai ◽  
Kwanchanok Yimtae

Abstract Background Globally increasing number of elders is concerned. Hearing loss process in older adults cannot be avoided. An effective screening tool for hearing loss is essential for proper diagnosis and rehabilitation, which can improve QOL in older adults. Methods This prospective-diagnostic test study evaluates the diagnostic value of Thai version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly Screening (HHIE-ST) and the Thai Single Question (TSQ) surveys in screening hearing disability in 1109 Thai participants aged 60 years and older in communities in four provinces in Thailand. The HHIE-ST consisted of 10 selected questions from the validated HHIE-Thai version. A TSQ survey was developed to have the same meaning as an English Single Question survey. The participants answered both questionnaires, and a standard audiometry test assessed with air conduction from 250 to 8000 Hz was included as a gold standard. Results The prevalence of hearing disability was 38.34%. The HHIE-ST achieved a sensitivity of 88.96% (95% CI 85.77–91.64) and specificity of 52.19% (95% CI 48.24–56.13) for diagnosis hearing disability in Thai older adults, whereas the TSQ yielded a sensitivity of 88.73% and a specificity of 55.93%. A combined test including the HHIE-ST and TSQ achieved better performance with sensitivity of 85.29% and specificity of 60.13%. Conclusions Either the HHIE-ST or the TSQ is a sensitive and useful tool for screening hearing disability in Thai older adults. Using the HHIE-ST together with the TSQ resulted in a better screening tool for detecting moderate hearing loss older adults who will benefit and recommended for hearing rehabilitation. Trial registration The study is registered with the following number in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry: TCTR20151015003. Date of registration October 14, 2015.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (02) ◽  
pp. 179-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Meneses-Barriviera ◽  
Luciana Marchiori ◽  
Juliana Melo

Author(s):  
Faradila Budi Saputri ◽  
Azizah Amimathul Firdha ◽  
Safira Rahma ◽  
Rieza Rizqy Alda ◽  
Syahwina Inayasari ◽  
...  

Presbycusis is a disease that can befall the elderly, caused by a multifactorial process that should be allowed to disrupt communication and social life and cause mental disorders. According to WHO the proportion of the elderly population rises rapidly which is estimated in 2025, there are about 1,2 billion elderly people with a risk of presbycusis. Mr.S was 84 years old, married and had 2 children, complained of hearing loss since 10 years ago on the patient's left ear. The decline in hearing occurred gradually, giving the last 4 years after his wife's death. Patients was taken to Otorhinolaryngologist and expressed age-related hearing impairment and was advised to use hearing aids. Patients are not routinely using hearing aids. In addition, patients have hypertension and heart disease. Patients consumed Captopril 2x1 tablets, Fundifar 2x1, Furosemide 1x40 mg and Fargoxin 1x0.25 mg. Patients do not routinely consumed cardiac medicine and used hearing aids. From the results of heteroanamnesis, physical examination, and audiogram examination conducted in Mr.S patients, it can be concluded that Mr.S suffers from presbycusis with hypertensive and congestive heart failure. Mr.S was advised to routinely have their hearing check to Otorhinolaryngologist the as an evaluation and routine control to Cardiologist. 


BMC Cancer ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Boegh Jakobsen ◽  
Morten Lamberts ◽  
Nicholas Carlson ◽  
Morten Lock-Hansen ◽  
Christian Torp-Pedersen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The prevalence of both atrial fibrillation (AF) and malignancies are increasing in the elderly, but incidences of new onset AF in different cancer subtypes are not well described.The objectives of this study were therefore to determine the incidence of AF in different cancer subtypes and to examine the association of cancer and future AF. Methods Using national databases, the Danish general population was followed from 2000 until 2012. Every individual aged > 18 years and with no history of cancer or AF prior to study start was included. Incidence rates of new onset AF were identified and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of AF in cancer patients were calculated in an adjusted Poisson regression model. Results A total of 4,324,545 individuals were included in the study. Cancer was diagnosed in 316,040 patients. The median age of the cancer population was 67.0 year and 51.5% were females. Incidences of AF were increased in all subtypes of cancer. For overall cancer, the incidence was 17.4 per 1000 person years (PY) vs 3.7 per 1000 PY in the general population and the difference increased with age. The covariate adjusted IRR for AF in overall cancer was 1.46 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44–1.48). The strength of the association declined with time from cancer diagnosis (IRR0-90days = 3.41 (3.29–3.54), (IRR-180 days-1 year = 1.57 (CI 1.50–1.64) and (IRR2–5 years = 1.12 (CI 1.09–1.15). Conclusions In this nationwide cohort study we observed that all major cancer subtypes were associated with an increased incidence of AF. Further, cancer and AF might be independently associated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miula Portelinha Braga ◽  
Sandra Mara Maciel ◽  
Luciana Lozza de Moraes Marchiori ◽  
Regina Célia Poli-Frederico

1995 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. P150-P150
Author(s):  
Frederick Byl

Educational objectives: To better understand the etiology and natural history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and to develop a practical, cost-effective management plan consistent with sound medical judgment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-313
Author(s):  
Joon Shin ◽  
Junghwa Bahng

The elderly with hearing loss have often experienced spatial hearing deficits when only wearing hearing aids. This case study aimed to investigate whether auditory training for spatial hearing loss could improve the spatial hearing ability of the elderly who wear hearing aids. Two older adults (males, aged 75 years and 78 years) who were wearing bilateral hearing aids participated. They had symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. A total of 16 auditory-training sessions (40 minutes, twice per week) for auditory training for spatial hearing ability provided. For outcome measurements, we assessed speech reception thresholds (SRTs) and spatial release from masking (SRM), using two types of noise, steady-state noise and speech-like noise at pre- and post-auditory training. Both subjects increased SRTs after the auditory training, but the SRM of only one participant improved. Also, there were no masking effects for SRM in terms of noise types. Both subjects reported that their trained hearing skills helped in communication with their families and friends. These results suggested that audiologists can consider auditory training for focusing on the spatial hearing loss for the elderly hearing aids users.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (05) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Filomena da Ponte

Aging, consensually assumed as a process that affects and alters significantly the cognitive and behavioral functions of the human being , encompassing multiple effects on a number of clinically significant variables , the most important being those that directly relate to the movement, ability to balance the effectiveness of mental functioning and sensory functions such as taste, smell , sight and hearing . Hearing loss in the elderly, scientifically called presbiacustia emerges quietly and is increased progressively with advancing age. This study had as its aim to contribute to the achievement of the best quality of life for elderly individuals with hearing loss (presbycusis). Thus, the objectives targeted were: trying to understand the motivations of the elderly to the use of hearing aids; determine the degree of satisfaction of users of these prostheses; evaluate how Preabycusis affects the quality of life of the elderly. The method used was qualitative oriented once interviewed the elderly users of the home. The sample was composed of 110 participants, with presbycusis, 69 female and 41 male (institutionalized seniors).


Author(s):  
Abdolhakim Jorbonyan ◽  
Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz ◽  
Mahshid Foroghan ◽  
Saeideh Mehrkian

Objective: The most effective modality for presbycusis is using hearing aids. However, the rate of adoption and use of hearing aids among the elderly is not in line with the expectations. This review investigates the current evidence to identify factors affecting the adoption and use of hearing aids among the elderly with hearing loss. Design: This is a systematic review whose sample includes English articles published in peer-reviewed journals from January 2015 to October 2020. The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Scopus electronic databases. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessments were performed by two independent reviewers. Results: In the 22 studies included in this review, a number of factors, including demographic status (economic status and level of education), auditory factors (hearing loss severity, presence of tinnitus, and the sound quality of hearing aids), attitudinal and psychosocial factors (self-perceived hearing problems, perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefit, support from significant others, and extrovert and ambivert personality types) were identified as variables potentially impacting the adoption and use of hearing aids. Conclusion: The results show that demographic, attitudinal, and psychosocial factors, as well as auditory factors, play an influential role in the adoption and use rate of hearing aids among older populations suffering from hearing loss. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these factors in order to formulate hearing healthcare policies and adopt targeted and appropriate interventions in the process of prescribing, adjusting, and evaluating hearing aids. PROSPERO registration: The protocol of this systematic review was published in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) with registration number: CRD42021227684 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021227684)


Author(s):  
Don Walter Kannangara ◽  
Don Walter Kannangara ◽  
D. Pandya ◽  
R. Anmolsingh

In our study, septic arthritis due to Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcal species was more common in the elderly. This contrasts with Lyme arthritis which has a higher incidence in younger patients. The majority of joint infections were in the elderly, with a median age of 65 (range 14-95) for Staphylococcus aureus and 70 for Streptococcal species. The age range of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) septic arthritis was 27-95 (median 72) with 39/53 (73.6%) above age 60. The age range of Streptococcal arthritis patients was 36-86 (median 70). There were more males with septic arthritis for both Staphylococcus aureus (86/134) 64% and streptococci (12/22) 55%. The most frequently involved joint was the knee, 49.3% for S. aureus followed by hip (23.9%), elbow (14.3%), shoulder (14%), wrist (1.5%), ankle (0.75%) and sternoclavicular (0.75%). The knee was affected in 81% of Streptococcal infections, with the rest equally divided between the hip, elbow, acromioclavicular and ankle joints. The history of prior joint replacement in patients with septic arthritis was 21/28 (80%) for MRSA, 36/102 (35.3%) for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 9/21 (43%) for streptococcal arthritis suggestive of healthcare-associated infections. Our results suggest a need for improvements to prevent the entry of pathogens into the surgical site during and after surgery.


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