Computerized dynamic posturography in the objective assessment of balance in patients with intermittent claudication

Patrick, C; Mockford, Katherine A.; Mazari, Fayyaz A.K.; Mazari, Fayyaz A. K.; Jordan, Alastair R.; Chetter, Ian; Vanicek, Natalie; Chetter, Ian C.; Coughlin, Patrick A.

Abstract

One-third of all elderly patients fall each year and impaired balance has been recognized as a specific risk factor. Intermittent claudication is common among the elderly population, affecting approximately 5% of the population over the age of 50. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to assess the prevalence of impaired balance among elderly claudicants and to assess each patient's insight into their own risk of falling. A total of 58 claudicants (45 men), median age of 70 (interquartile range = 65-73) years, underwent objective balance assessment by using computerized dynamic posturography. As compared with 195 (5%) historic controls, 24 (41%) of the claudicants demonstrated abnormal balance when the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) was used. Vestibular dysfunction occurred in 52% of the claudicants. Abnormalities including somatosensory (22%), visual function (17%), and preferential reliance on inaccurate visual cues (17%) occurred less often. Prolonged Motor Control Test latency times were uncommon (n = 13) and were in most cases evenly distributed between those with normal (n= 7) and abnormal (n = 6) composite SOT scores. There was a significant difference in history of falling between claudicants with abnormal and normal SOT scores (p = 0.003), with a higher number of patients with abnormal SOT having experienced falling in the past year. However, no correlation between fear of falling and composite SOT score was found (Spearman rank correlation, r= 0.124; p = 0.381). Impaired balance, particularly secondary to vestibular problems, is very common among claudicants and may predispose to a high incidence of falls. Claudicants with abnormal balance are more likely to have a history of falls but not a fear of falling, thus potentially rendering these patients to be at a greater risk.

Citation

Mockford, K. A., Mazari, F. A. K., Jordan, A. R., Vanicek, N., Chetter, I. C., & Coughlin, P. A. (2011). Computerized dynamic posturography in the objective assessment of balance in patients with intermittent claudication. Annals of vascular surgery, 25(2), 182-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2010.07.021

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Oct 2, 2010
• Publication Date: 2011-02
• Journal: Annals of Vascular Surgery
• Print ISSN: 0890-5096
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 182-190
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2010.07.021
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/432640
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890509610003559?via%3Dihub