TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Strobl, R. A1 - Jahn, K. A1 - Linkohr, B. A1 - Ladwig, K.H. A1 - Mielk, A. A1 - Grill, E. ED - Springer Link, T1 - Impact of vertigo and dizziness on self-perceived participation and autonomy in older adults: Results from the KORA-Age study JF - Quality of life research N2 - Purpose The impact of vertigo and dizziness on healthy ageing, and especially on participation, is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of vertigo and dizziness with self-perceived participation and autonomy in older non-institutionalised individuals, adjusted for the presence of other health conditions. Specifically, we wanted to investigate the different effects of vertigo and dizziness on specific components of participation, i.e. restrictions in indoor and outdoor autonomy, family role, social life and relationships, and work and education. Methods Data originate from the second wave of the German KORA-Age cohort study collected in 2012. Participation and autonomy was investigated with the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire. We used robust regression to analyse the association of vertigo and dizziness with self-perceived participation and autonomy adjusted for covariates. Results A total of 822 participants (49.6 % female) had a mean age of 78.1 years (SD 6.39). Participation and autonomy were significantly lower in participants with vertigo and dizziness across all domains. Adjusted for age, sex, and chronic conditions, vertigo and dizziness were significantly associated with participation restrictions in all domains except social life and relationships. Conclusion The results of our study indicate that vertigo and dizziness contribute to restrictions in participation and autonomy in individuals of older age. Recognising vertigo and dizziness as independent contributors to loss of autonomy and decreased chances for independent living may create new options for patient care and population health, such as the designing of complex interventions to maintain participation and autonomy. KW - Aged KW - Aged and over 80 KW - participation KW - autonomy KW - chronic conditions KW - vertigo KW - dizziness Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Strobl, R. A1 - Jahn, K. A1 - Linkohr, B. A1 - Peters, A. A1 - Grill, E. ED - Oxford Academic, T1 - Burden of disability attributable to vertigo and dizziness in the aged: results from the KORA-Age study JF - European journal of public health N2 - Background: Complaints of vertigo and dizziness are common in primary care in the aged. They can be caused by distinct vestibular disorders, but can also be a symptom in other conditions like non-vestibular sensory loss, vascular encephalopathy or anxiety. The aim of this study was to investigate the specific contribution of vertigo and dizziness to the total burden of disability in aged persons when controlling for the presence of other health conditions. Methods: Data originate from the MONICA/KORA study, a population-based cohort. Survivors of the original cohorts who were 65 years and older were examined by telephone interview in 2009. Disability was assessed with the Health Assessment Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders and additive regression to estimate the contribution of vertigo and dizziness to disability prevalence. Results: Adjusted for age, sex and other chronic conditions, vertigo and dizziness were associated with disability (odds ratio 1.66, 95% confidence intervals 1.40–1.98). In both men and women between 65 and 79 years, vertigo and dizziness were among the strongest contributors to the burden of disability with a prevalence of 10.5% (6.6 to 15.1) in men and 9.0% (5.7 to 13.0) in women. In men, this effect is stable across all age-groups, whereas it decreases with age in women. Conclusions: Vertigo and dizziness independently and relevantly contribute to population-attributable disability in the aged. They are not inevitable consequences of ageing but arise from distinct disease entities. Careful management of vertigo and dizziness might increase population health and reduce disability. KW - Dizziness KW - Vertigo KW - disability Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grill, E. A1 - Strupp, M. A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Jahn, K. ED - Springer Link, T1 - Health services utilization of patients with vertigo in primary care: a retrospective cohort study JF - Journal of neurology N2 - Vertigo and dizziness count among the most frequent symptoms in outpatient practices. Although most vestibular disorders are manageable, they are often under- and misdiagnosed in primary care. This may result in prolonged absence from work, increased resource use and, potentially, in chronification. Reliable information on health services utilization of patients with vertigo in primary care is scarce. Retrospective cohort study in patients referred to a tertiary care balance clinic. Included patients had a confirmed diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Menière’s disease (MD), vestibular paroxysmia (VP), bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP), vestibular migraine (VM), or psychogenic vertigo (PSY). All previous diagnostic and therapeutic measures prior to the first visit to the clinic were recorded. 2,374 patients were included (19.7 % BPPV, 12.7 % MD, 5.8 % VP, 7.2 % BVP, 14.1 % VM, 40.6 % PSY), 61.3 % with more than two consultations. Most frequent diagnostic measures were magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 76.2 %, 71 % in BPPV) and electrocardiography (53.5 %). Most frequent therapies were medication (61.0 %) and physical therapy (41.3 %). 37.3 % had received homoeopathic medication (39 % in BPPV), and 25.9 % were treated with betahistine (20 % in BPPV). Patients had undergone on average 3.2 (median 3.0, maximum 6) diagnostic measures, had received 1.8 (median 2.0, maximum 8) therapies and 1.8 (median 1.0, maximum 17) different drugs. Diagnostic subgroups differed significantly regarding number of diagnostic measures, therapies and drugs. The results emphasize the need for establishing systematic training to improve oto-neurological skills in primary care services not specialized on the treatment of dizzy patients. KW - Primary health care KW - Vertigo KW - Dizziness KW - Utilization Y1 - 2014 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strobl, R. A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Thorand, B. A1 - Linkohr, B. A1 - Autenrieth, C. S. A1 - Peters, A. A1 - Grill, E. ED - Elsevier, T1 - Men benefit more from midlife leisure-time physical activity than women regarding the development of late-life disability--results of the KORA-Age study JF - science direct N2 - Objective Encouraging physical activity is an important public health measure to reduce disability prevalence in the aged. The aims of this study were to determine the association between midlife physical activity and late-life disability and to investigate gender-specific differences. Method This data originates from the KORA-Age cohort, a follow-up in 2008 of the MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases)/KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) S1–S4 surveys (1984–2001) situated in Augsburg, a city in Southern Germany. We applied a multivariable hurdle model to investigate the association of physical activity and disability. Results We analysed 3333 persons with a mean follow-up of 18 ± 5.5 years. Using hurdle models, moderate activity and high activity had a protective effect on the occurrence of disability (OR (odds ratio) = 0.80 and 0.73), but not on severity (i.e. number of limitations). We observed a strong gender-specific difference in this association, with men benefitting more from exercise. Conclusion Elevated physical activity reduces the risk of becoming disabled and postpones the onset of disability by several years, but we could not show an effect on the severity of disability. In addition, men seem to benefit more from leisure-time physical activity than women KW - Aged KW - Aged 80 and over KW - physical activity KW - Disability evaluation Y1 - 2014 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schaeffler, F. A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Huppert, D. A1 - Brandt, T. A1 - Tiffe, T. A1 - Grill, E. ED - Springer Link, T1 - Consequences of visual height intolerance for quality of life: a qualitative study. JF - Quality of life research N2 - Purpose Visual height intolerance (vHI) occurs when a trigger causes the apprehension of losing balance and falling. Depending on the severity of vHI, an avoidance behavior may develop in about 50 % of the thus afflicted, and it can have considerable impact on their daily life and interpersonal interactions. It seems obvious that such experiences may be impairing and distressing, but this has not yet been examined systematically. Objective of this study was to examine the consequences of vHI for quality of life. Methods A qualitative, phenomenological exploratory approach was chosen. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with individuals who had reported in a previous study that they were susceptible to vHI. The interview transcripts were segregated into distinct meaning units, which were used to create a coding guideline with meta- and subcodes. Meaning units were then systematically extracted and assigned to the appropriate codes. Weights and links were used to assign priorities for interpretation. Results Eighteen participants were interviewed (mean age 53, range 30–73; 11 females). Data analysis resulted in 29 meta-codes and 115 subcodes. Responses indicated that vHI can be very disabling and has a relevant impact on quality of life and daily activities of the affected persons, including their family life and behavior towards partner, children and friends. Conclusion Relevant topics for further quantitative studies were identified, for example, strategies of compensation and the influence of vHI on family life. Other quantitative studies should determine whether comorbidities and the typologies found in this study have consequences for individual therapeutic approaches. KW - Qualitative study KW - Quality of life KW - visual height intolerance KW - acrophobia KW - fear of heigts KW - anxiety Y1 - 2014 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Roehrig, N. A1 - Strobl, R. A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Perz, S. A1 - Kaab, S. A1 - Martens, E. A1 - Peters, A. A1 - Linkohr, B. A1 - Grill, E. ED - PlumX Metrics, T1 - Directed acyclic graphs helped to identify confounding in the association of disability and electrocardiographic findings: results from the KORA-Age study JF - Journal of clinical epidemiology N2 - Objectives To examine the association between electrocardiographic (ECG) findings and disability status in older adults. Study Design and Setting KORA-Age, a population-based cross-sectional study of the MONICA/KORA project, a randomized sample from Southern Germany of people aged 65 years or older. Results A total of 534 (51.5%) of 1,037 participants were characterized as disabled. Disabled participants were on average 4.5 years older than those who were not disabled. Crude associations of left-axis deviation, ventricular conduction defects, atrial fibrillation, and QT prolongation with disability status were significant (P < 0.05). In models controlled for age and sex, these effects remained constant except for QT prolongation. In the models adjusted for the minimal sufficient adjustment set (consisting of the variables sex, physical activity, age, obesity, diabetes, education, heart diseases, income, lung diseases, and stroke) identified by a directed acyclic graph (DAG), no significant association could be shown. Conclusion Associations between specific ECG findings and disability were found in unadjusted analysis and logistic models adjusted for age and sex. However, when adjusting for other possible confounders identified by the DAG, all these associations were no longer significant. It is important to adequately identify confounding in such settings. KW - Electrocardiography KW - ECG abnormalities KW - disability evaluation KW - aged KW - directed acrylic graph KW - cross-sectional study Y1 - 2014 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grill, E. A1 - Furman, J.M. A1 - Alghwiri, A.A. A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Whitney, S.L. ED - Bárány Society, T1 - Using core sets of the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) to measure disability in vestibular disorders: study protocol JF - Journal of vestibular research N2 - Symptom frequency and severity in vestibular disorders often do not correlate well with patients' restrictions of activities of daily living and limitations of participation. Due to the lack of appropriate patient reported outcome measures (PRO), the extent of limitations and restrictions is mostly unknown. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is a conceptual framework and classification to evaluate all aspects of health and disability. An ICF-based measure, the Vestibular and Participation Measure (VAP), was recently proposed. Also, an ICF Core Set for vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders was developed to describe what aspects of functioning should be measured. This study protocol describes the development and cross-cultural validation of a new measure, the VAP-extended (VAP-e), based on VAP and ICF Core Set on three continents. To determine objectivity and cross-cultural validity of the VAP and to find potentially redundant items, Rasch models will be used. The VAP-e will be created by modifying or adding items from the Activities and Participation and Environmental Factors component of the ICF Core Set. Reliability, objectivity and responsiveness of the VAP-e will be tested. KW - Vertigo KW - Dizziness KW - Quality of life KW - Activities of daily living Y1 - 2013 IS - 23(6) ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Fischer, U. A1 - Bartoszek, G. A1 - Grill, E. A1 - Meyer, G. ED - Springer Nature, T1 - Impact of joint contractures on functioning and social participation in older individuals--development of a standard set (JointConFunctionSet): study protocol JF - BMC Geriatrics N2 - Background Joint contractures are frequent in older individuals in geriatric care settings. Even though they are used as indicator of quality of care, there is neither a common standard to describe functioning and disability in patients nor an established standardized assessment to describe and quantify the impact of joint contractures on patients’ functioning. Thus, the aim of our study is (1) to develop a standard set for the assessment of the impact of joint contractures on functioning and social participation in older individuals and (2) to develop and validate a standardized assessment instrument for describing and quantifying the impact of joint contractures on the individuals’ functioning. Methods The standard set for joint contractures integrate the perspectives of all potentially relevant user groups, from the affected individuals to clinicians and researchers. The development of this set follows the methodology to develop an International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set and involves a formal decision-making and consensus process. Evidence from four preparatory studies will be integrated including qualitative interviews with patients, a systematic review of the literature, a survey with health professionals, and a cross sectional study with patients affected by joint contractures. The assessment instrument will be developed using item-response-theory models. The instrument will be validated. Discussion The standard set for joint contractures will provide a list of aspects of functioning and health most relevant for older individuals in geriatric care settings with joint contractures. This list will describe body functions, body structures, activities and participation and related environmental factors. This standard set will define what aspects of functioning should be assessed in individuals with joint contractures and will be the basis of the new assessment instrument to evaluate the impact of joint contractures on functioning and social participation. KW - BMC geriatrics Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Martin A1 - Fischer, U. A1 - Bartoszek, G. A1 - Grill, E. A1 - Meyer, G. ED - Springer Nature, T1 - Impact of joint contractures on functioning and social participation in older individuals--development of a standard set (JointConFunctionSet) JF - BMC Geriatrics N2 - Background Free movement of the limbs is a prerequisite of mobility and autonomy in old age. Joint contractures, i.e. restrictions in full range of motion of any joint due to deformity, disuse or pain, are common problems of frail older people, particularly in nursing home residents. Contractures are among the most unexplored and underreported syndromes in clinical and homecare settings. Epidemiological studies indicate a wide range of prevalence of joint contractures in older individuals between 20% and 80%. This variation is due to different definitions of contracture and varying diagnostic criteria or data collection methods, different research settings, sample size and study participants? characteristics. The aetiology of joint contractures is multifaceted. In older people contractures may be caused by a variety of health conditions and situations, but immobility due to an acute injury or disease seems to be the major risk factor. Upper limb joint contractures may result in loss of ability to dress or eat independently while lower limb contractures may lead to instability and inability to walk independently and higher risk of bed confinement. Joint contractures further increase the risk of other adverse patient outcomes like pain, pressure ulcers and risk of falls. Thus, joint contractures are a major cause for excess disability in older people with a significant impact on overall quality of life and functioning. Preventive and rehabilitation interventions targeting joint contractures may decrease morbidity, increase functioning and quality of life, and, ultimately, prevent long-term disability. In the United States of America, presence of joint contractures is an established indicator of quality of care in nursing facilities. In Germany, joint contracture risk assessment and prevention have recently been defined as a quality indicator of nursing home care that should be regularly monitored by experts from the statutory health insurance system. Nursing homes are obliged to report whether they regularly assess the risk of joint contracture and administer relevant preventive measures. In clinical settings, joint contractures are assessed by measuring the range of motion. However, from a patient- and nursing-oriented perspective the relevance of a systematic registration of contractures in care-dependent older people is unclear unless their impact on functioning is understood. Contracture assessment is only an intermediate step in the evaluation of patient-relevant outcomes such as quality of life, functioning, and the ability to participate in everyday life and social participation. Arguably, a clinical definition of joint contracture is difficult because the contracture?s severity is determined by the consequences on activities of daily living, quality of life and social participation. In addition, there is no consensus on aspects most relevant to the affected individuals. A variety of functional measures is currently used for the assessment and evaluation of geriatric patients. To date, there is no consensus on common concepts for the choice of outcome measures specifically for evaluating the impact of interventions targeted on joint KW - Contractures KW - Aged KW - 80 and over KW - disabled persons KW - outcome assessment KW - geriatric rehabilitation Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grill, E. A1 - Bronstein, A. A1 - Furman, J. A1 - Zee, D.S. A1 - Müller, Martin ED - Bárány Society, T1 - International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for patients with vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders JF - Journal of vestibular research N2 - Vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders have major impact on independence, employability, activities and participation. There are many measures for the assessment of the impact of vertigo, but no consensus exists on which aspects should be measured. The objective of this study was to develop international standards (ICF Core Sets) for patients with vertigo and dizziness to describe functioning. The development of the ICF Core Sets involved a formal decision-making and consensus process, integrating evidence from preparatory studies including qualitative interviews with patients, a systematic review of the literature, a survey with health professionals, and empirical data collection from patients. Twenty-seven experts selected 100 second level categories for the comprehensive Core Set and 29 second level categories for the Brief Core Set. The largest number of categories was selected from the ICF component Activities and Participation (40). Twenty-five categories were selected from the component Body Functions, six from Body Structures, and 29 from Environmental Factors. The ICF Core Set for vertigo is designed for physicians, nurses, therapists and other health professionals working in inpatient or ambulatory settings. ICF Core Sets create patient-relevant outcomes that can be used as evidence for the success of treatments. KW - Vertigo KW - Dizziness KW - Quality of life Y1 - 2012 ER -