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Abstract #161189

Howard J. Hoffman, MA¹, Daniel A. Sklare, PhD², May S. Chiu, BS¹, and Katalin Losonczy, MA³. (1) Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Executive Plaza South, Suite 400A, 6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7180, Bethesda, MD 20892-7180, 301-402-1843, hoffmanh@nidcd.nih.gov, (2) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Training Officer, Executive Plaza South Building, Room 400C, 6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7180, Bethesda, MD 20892, (3) Sparks, SAS Statistical Programmer, 4630 Montgomery Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

Background: Few population-based studies have assessed balance problems and symptoms of chronic dizziness or imbalance. Understanding the epidemiology of balance/vestibular disorders is a high priority for developing health screenings and interventions.

Methods: Interviews and a modified Romberg Test of Standing Balance were conducted in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2004. Problems with dizziness or imbalance and falls were reported in the interview. The Romberg tested standing, feet together, on a firm surface without moving for 15 seconds, with eyes open and then eyes shut; then standing for 30 seconds on a compliant surface (foam pad), with eyes open and then eyes shut. The Romberg was scored pass/fail; failing was inability to complete each of the four conditions after two attempts. About 10% met Romberg exclusion criteria.

Results: Of adults 40+ years, 5.5% (6.7 million) reported chronic (3+ months) imbalance, 3.8% (4.6 million) chronic dizziness and 2.3% (2.8 million) both. 48% of subjects with chronic imbalance fell in the past year and only one-third passed the Romberg. No problem with dizziness or balance was reported by 77.1%. Of these, only 1% reported falling and two-thirds passed the Romberg. Other conditions associated with falling or chronic dizziness or imbalance included cardiovascular disease, stroke, and trouble seeing.

Conclusions: Subjects reporting problems with dizziness and especially balance are at higher risk of falling, based on both recent history of falls and clinical testing. Interventions such as physical therapy may improve balance, reduce risk of falling and improve quality of life.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize conditions/symptoms that predict falls and performance on the Modified Standing Romberg Exam.
• Identify patterns associated with aging and gender.
• Understand the utility of standardized questions on dizziness and imbalance problems for use in health interview and examination surveys.

Keywords: Disability Studies, Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.