Association of Hearing Impairment and Emotional Vitality in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the potential impact of hearing impairment (HI) and hearing aid use on emotional vitality and mental health in older adults. METHOD: We investigated the cross-sectional association of HI with emotional vitality in 1,903 adults aged 76–85 years in the Health ABC study adjusted for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Hearing was defined by the speech frequency pure tone average (no impairment < 25 dB, mild impairment 25–40 dB, and moderate or greater impairment > 40 dB). Emotional vitality was defined as having a high sense of personal mastery, happiness, low depressive symptomatology, and low anxiety. RESULTS: Compared with individuals with no HI, participants with moderate or greater HI had a 23% lower odds of emotional vitality (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59–0.99). Hearing aid use was not associated with better emotional vitality (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.81–1.20). DISCUSSION: HI is associated with lower odds of emotional vitality in older adults. Further studies are needed to examine the longitudinal impact of HI on mental health and well-being

Association of Hearing Impairment and Anxiety in Older Adults

ObjectiveThe objective of the study is was investigate the association between hearing impairment and anxiety.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,732 community-based adults aged 76 to 85 years who participated in the Health Aging and Body Composition (ABC) study. Logistic regression models were adjusted for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Hearing impairment was defined by the speech-frequency pure tone average. Anxiety was defined as reporting two symptoms of at least "a little" or one symptom "quite a bit" on the three-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist.ResultsCompared with individuals with no hearing impairment, the odds of prevalent anxiety were higher among individuals with mild hearing impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.01, 1.73]) and moderate or greater hearing impairment (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = [1.14, 2.22]). Hearing aid use was not significantly associated with lower odds of anxiety.DiscussionHearing impairment is independently associated with greater odds of anxiety symptoms in older adults

Association of Hearing Impairment and Emotional Vitality in Older Adults

ObjectivesTo better understand the potential impact of hearing impairment (HI) and hearing aid use on emotional vitality and mental health in older adults.MethodWe investigated the cross-sectional association of HI with emotional vitality in 1,903 adults aged 76-85 years in the Health ABC study adjusted for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Hearing was defined by the speech frequency pure tone average (no impairment &lt; 25 dB, mild impairment 25-40 dB, and moderate or greater impairment &gt; 40 dB). Emotional vitality was defined as having a high sense of personal mastery, happiness, low depressive symptomatology, and low anxiety.ResultsCompared with individuals with no HI, participants with moderate or greater HI had a 23% lower odds of emotional vitality (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.99). Hearing aid use was not associated with better emotional vitality (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.81-1.20).DiscussionHI is associated with lower odds of emotional vitality in older adults. Further studies are needed to examine the longitudinal impact of HI on mental health and well-being

Outcomes after definitive surgery for mandibular osteoradionecrosis

ObjectivesTo analyze charges, complications, survival, and functional outcomes for definitive surgery of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN).Materials and MethodsRetrospective analysis of 76 patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy with reconstruction from 2000 to 2009.ResultsComplications occurred in 49 (65%) patients and were associated with preoperative drainage (odds ratio [OR] 4.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–19.27). The adjusted median charge was $343 000, and higher charges were associated with double flap reconstruction (OR 8.15, 95% CI 2.19–30.29) and smoking (OR 5.91, 95% CI 1.69–20.72). Improved swallow was associated with age <67 years (OR 3.76, 95% CI 1.16–12.17) and preoperative swallow (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.23–9.51). Five-year ORN-recurrence-free survival was 93% while overall survival was 63% and associated with pulmonary disease (HR [hazard ratio] 3.57, 95% CI 1.43–8.94).ConclusionsAlthough recurrence of ORN is rare, surgical complications are common and charges are high. Poorer outcomes and higher charges are associated with preoperative factors.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/172253/1/hed27024_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/172253/2/hed27024.pd

Impact of Cancer Care Regionalization on Patient Volume

BACKGROUND: Cancer centers are regionalizing care to expand patient access, but the effects on patient volume are unknown. This study aimed to compare patient volumes before and after the establishment of head and neck regional care centers (HNRCCs). METHODS: This study analyzed 35,394 unique new patient visits at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) before and after the creation of HNRCCs. Univariate regression estimated the rate of increase in new patient appointments. Geospatial analysis evaluated patient origin and distribution. RESULTS: The mean new patients per year in 2006-2011 versus 2012-2017 was 2735 ± 156 patients versus 3155 ± 207 patients, including 464 ± 78 patients at HNRCCs, reflecting a 38.4 % increase in overall patient volumes. The rate of increase in new patient appointments did not differ significantly before and after HNRCCs (121.9 vs 95.8 patients/year; P = 0.519). The patients from counties near HNRCCs, showed a 210.8 % increase in appointments overall, 33.8 % of which were at an HNRCC. At the main campus exclusively, the shift in regional patients to HNRCCs coincided with a lower rate of increase in patients from the MDACC service area (33.7 vs. 11.0 patients/year; P = 0.035), but the trend was toward a greater increase in out-of-state patients (25.7 vs. 40.3 patients/year; P = 0.299). CONCLUSIONS: The creation of HNRCCs coincided with stable increases in new patient volume, and a sizeable minority of patients sought care at regional centers. Regional patients shifted to the HNRCCs, and out-of-state patient volume increased at the main campus, optimizing access for both local and out-of-state patients