High frequency hearing thresholds and product distortion otoacoustic emissions in cystic fibrosis patients,

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis involves the use of ototoxic drugs, mainly aminoglycoside antibiotics. Due to the use of these drugs, fibrocystic patients are at risk of developing hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hearing of patients with cystic fibrosis by High Frequency Audiometry and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. The study group consisted of 39 patients (7-20 years of age) with cystic fibrosis and a control group of 36 individuals in the same age group without otologic complaints, with normal audiometric thresholds and type A tympanometric curves. High Frequency Audiometry and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions tests were conducted. RESULTS: The study group had significantly higher thresholds at 250, 1000, 8000, 9000, 10,000, 12,500, and 16,000 Hz (p = 0.004) as well as higher prevalence of otoacoustic emission alterations at 1000 and 6000 Hz (p = 0.001), with significantly lower amplitudes at 1000, 1400, and 6000 Hz. There was a significant association between alterations in hearing thresholds in High Frequency Audiometry with the number of courses of aminoglycosides administered (p = 0.005). Eighty-three percent of patients who completed more than ten courses of aminoglycosides had hearing loss in High Frequency Audiometry. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients with cystic fibrosis who received repeated courses of aminoglycosides showed alterations in High Frequency Audiometry and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions. The implementation of ten or more aminoglycoside cycles was associated with alterations in High Frequency Audiometry

Activity level predicts 6-minute walk distance in healthy older females : an observational study

Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used in clinical practice and research. Few studies have investigated activity level as a predictor of 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and existing predictive models do not allow for activity level. Objectives: To evaluate if knowledge of the level of physical activity enhanced the ability to predict 6MWD, and if the inclusion of activity level added to the predictive accuracy of existing models for the 6MWT in healthy older women; and to validate existent predictive models for 6MWD in a new sample. Design: Cross-sectional, observational study. Setting: Four elderly communities. Participants: A convenience sample of healthy active and sedentary older non-smoking females with no musculoskeletal or lung disorders. Main outcome measures: Age, height, weight, spirometric values and 6MWD. Results: Seventy-seven out of 154 females met the inclusion criteria [mean age 66 (standard deviation 6.5) years]: 46 were active and composed the active group and 31 were sedentary and composed the sedentary group. The active group had significantly greater 6MWD than the sedentary group (mean 44 m; 95% confidence interval 14 to 73 m; P < 0.01). Previous published models that did not allow for activity level either over or underestimated the 6MWD in this sample. The activity level was shown to be an important independent predictor of 6MWD. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of considering the level of physical activity when predicting 6MWD in older women.6 page(s