Association of Hearing Impairment With Higher-Level Physical Functioning and Walking Endurance: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although hearing impairment (HI) is linked to poorer physical functioning, the longitudinal associations between HI and higher-level functional measures are unclear.

Method

Data are from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (2012-2019). Using pure-tone audiometry, we categorized hearing into normal, mild, and moderate or greater HI. Physical function was assessed with the expanded Short Physical Performance Battery (eSPPB) and walking endurance with time to walk 400 m. Multivariable and mixed-effects linear models tested the hypotheses that participants with HI, at baseline, have poorer physical performance and walking endurance, and faster decline over time (up to 6 measurements). In a subset (n = 526), we further adjusted for vestibular function. Among part

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Amezcua P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8436975 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature