Author Interviews, ENT, JAMA / 18.03.2021
Balance Disorders Linked To Greater Mortality Than Cancer or Heart Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Chao Cao, MPH
PhD student in Movement Science,
Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine.
Senior author:
Lin Yang, PhD
Research Scientist/Epidemiologist
Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research
Cancer Care Alberta | Alberta Health Services | Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Dizziness and imbalance are common among US adults and increases the risk of serious injuries. However, research related to balance overwhelmingly focuses on functional outcomes among older adults, therefore our understanding on how balance function may affect the long-term health outcomes in adults of different age group is limited.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: We found that balance disorder affects nearly 2/3 of older Americans (65+ yr) as well as 1/3 of those middle-aged (50-64 yr). Our study, for the first time, found that for middle-aged and older Americans, their overall and sensory-specific balance disorders (visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular) were associated with higher mortality risks driven by cancer and CVD death over 12 years. (more…)
Response: Dizziness and imbalance are common among US adults and increases the risk of serious injuries. However, research related to balance overwhelmingly focuses on functional outcomes among older adults, therefore our understanding on how balance function may affect the long-term health outcomes in adults of different age group is limited.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: We found that balance disorder affects nearly 2/3 of older Americans (65+ yr) as well as 1/3 of those middle-aged (50-64 yr). Our study, for the first time, found that for middle-aged and older Americans, their overall and sensory-specific balance disorders (visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular) were associated with higher mortality risks driven by cancer and CVD death over 12 years. (more…)