Sleep lifestyle correlate of dizziness among teachers

Introduction  Some studies have shown associations between sleep quality and dizziness. However, this association has not been investigated in teachers.

Objective  To verify a possible association between dizziness complaint and sleep quality in teachers.

Methods  Cross-sectional study developed with 96 school teachers (mean age of 47.8 ± 9.8 years). To assess dizziness, an audiological assessment was performed, which was the same one used in routine audiological care (Miller protocol). The dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) was applied to those individuals who reported dizziness. To evaluated sleep quality, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used.

Results  The prevalence of dizziness was 22.9% ( n  = 22). Of these, 77.3% ( n  = 17) were women, 63.6% ( n  = 14) demonstrated poor sleep quality, and 54.5% ( n  = 12) were young adults (27–48 years). In the comparison between the dizziness and the control groups, no statistically significant differences were found ( p > 0.05). The analysis adjusted for the confounding variables showed a difference for men in the sleep efficiency variable ( p  = 0.043); young adults showed a statistically significant difference in the total score ( p  = 0.021) and total sleep time ( p  = 0.029). There was a moderate correlation between DHI and total time in bed ( p  = 0.036, r = 0.497) and DHI and sleep efficiency ( p  = 0.014; r = -0.582).

Conclusion  Dizziness influences the quality of sleep in teachers, especially that of the youngest and male patients. There was a moderate correlation between total time in bed, sleep efficiency, and DHI, demonstrating that sleep quality should be considered an important factor in the assessment and rehabilitation process of dizziness.

Tinnitus and its relationship with anxiety and depression in the elderly: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective: to verify, in the literature, a probable association of tinnitus with anxiety and depression in the elderly. Methods: a systematic review (through a search in the indexed databases - Lilacs, Scielo, Pubmed, Science Direct, The Cochrane Library) of studies published between 2013 and 2018, in Portuguese and in English, involving adults and/or elderly (18 years and older). The descriptors used were: “tinnitus", "depression", "anxiety", "adult", "elderly", interspersed by the Boolean operator AND. Results: 11 studies were selected, from which, 5 compared adults to elderly and only 2 evaluated such relationship in the elderly alone. Studies suggest that, as age increases, tinnitus severity and psychological symptoms also increase, affecting both men and women. Conclusion: few studies compared the relationship between the variables among the elderly. A probable association between the variables for both genders has been found, suggesting that the advancing age contributes to the increase of tinnitus severity and its psychological symptoms, affecting the quality of life of these individuals. Further studies are suggested to confirm the association between tinnitus, anxiety and depression in the elderly. Multi-professional work is important for the evaluation and treatment of these people.

Vestibular dysfunction and postural balance in cochlear implant users: a narrative literature review

ABSTRACT Cochlear implants directly stimulate nerve fibers and ganglion cells of the auditory nerve, which transform sound energy into low levels of electrical current, stimulating the remaining fibers of the auditory nerve in patients with severe to profound hearing loss, in order to provide the significant range of auditory sensation and speech comprehension. Due to the close relationship between cochlea and vestibular receptors, some patients may present vestibular and postural balance changes concomitantly after surgery. This study aimed to perform a narrative review of the main studies that relate vestibular symptoms in patients implanted in the last six years. The research was performed through the databases: SciELO, LILACS and PubMed, using associated descriptors for "cochlear implant", "vestibular dysfunction", "vertigo" and "balance", totalizing 21 studies that fitted the inclusion criteria. The results were described in a chronological order of publication, showing the main conclusions. Of the total studies analyzed, 18 related vestibular function to cochlear implant and only 3 studies did not find such a relationship. The literature characterize the effects of the cochlear implant on the vestibular system, however, the results are contradictory.

Prevalência de queixa de zumbido e prováveis associações com perda auditiva, diabetes mellitus e hipertensão arterial em pessoas idosas

OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência de queixa de zumbido e a possível associação com perda auditiva, diabetes mellitus e hipertensão arterial em pessoas idosas. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com indivíduos com idade superior a 60 anos, submetidos à avaliação audiológica (audiometria tonal e história), e questionário de comorbidades. Foram avaliados 519 indivíduos de ambos os gêneros com mediana de idade de 69 anos. Foram excluídos os indivíduos que não participaram do exame audiométrico, totalizando então 498 sujeitos. Foram aplicados os testes estatísticos apropriados para analisar a queixa de zumbido e os fatores associados. RESULTADOS: Observou-se a prevalência de 42,77% de queixa de zumbido, sendo 58,68% zumbido bilateral e 41,31% zumbido unilateral. Houve diferença entre o zumbido e a perda auditiva, porém não houve diferença entre a queixa de zumbido e hipertensão arterial e entre zumbido e o diabetes mellitus isoladamente. CONCLUSÃO: A queixa de zumbido tem prevalência importante nos idosos. Houve diferença entre zumbido e perda auditiva, ocorrendo associação entre o lado afetado pelo zumbido e o lado da perda auditiva. Apenas a associação das comorbidades de presença de diabetes mellitus e de hipertensão arterial é fator independente de risco para o zumbido.