Diego Urrunaga-Pastor1, Enrique Moncada-Mapelli2, Fernando M Runzer-Colmenares3, Zaira Bailon-Valdez4, Rafael Samper-Ternent5, Leocadio Rodriguez-Mañas6, Jose F Parodi7. 1. Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: diego.urrunaga.pastor1@gmail.com. 2. Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: enrique_1613@hotmail.com. 3. Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Centro de Investigación del Envejecimiento (CIEN), Lima, Peru; Bamboo Seniors Health Services, Lima, Peru; Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: frunzerc@usmp.pe. 4. Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: zairamanlujoz@gmail.com. 5. Internal Medicine/Geriatrics - Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA. Electronic address: ra.sampert@javeriana.edu.co. 6. Department of Geriatrics, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: leocadio.rodriguez@salud.madrid.org. 7. Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Centro de Investigación del Envejecimiento (CIEN), Lima, Peru; Bamboo Seniors Health Services, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: jparodig@usmp.pe.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Poor balance ability in older adults result in multiple complications. Poor balance ability has not been studied among older adults living at high altitudes. In this study, we analysed factors associated with poor balance ability by using the Functional Reach (FR) among older adults living in nine high-altitude communities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study, carried out in inhabitants aged 60 or over from nine high-altitude Andean communities of Peru during 2013-2016. FR was divided according to the cut-off point of 8 inches (20.32 cm) and two groups were generated: poor balance ability (FR less or equal than 20.32 cm) and good balance ability (greater than 20.32 cm). Additionally, we collected socio-demographic, medical, functional and cognitive assessment information. Poisson regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with poor balance ability. Prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95CI%) are presented. RESULTS: A total of 365 older adults were studied. The average age was 73.0 ± 6.9 years (range: 60-91 years), and 180 (49.3%) participants had poor balance ability. In the adjusted Poisson regression analysis, the factors associated with poor balance ability were: alcohol consumption (PR = 1.35; 95%CI: 1.05-1.73), exhaustion (PR = 2.22; 95%CI: 1.49-3.31), gait speed (PR = 0.67; 95%CI: 0.50-0.90), having had at least one fall in the last year (PR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.19-3.46), having at least one comorbidity (PR = 1.60; 95%CI: 1.10-2.35) and having two or more comorbidities (PR = 1.61; 95%CI: 1.07-2.42) compared to none. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately a half of the older adults from these high-altitude communities had poor balance ability. Interventions need to be designed to target these balance issues and prevent adverse events from concurring to these individuals.
INTRODUCTION: Poor balance ability in older adults result in multiple complications. Poor balance ability has not been studied among older adults living at high altitudes. In this study, we analysed factors associated with poor balance ability by using the Functional Reach (FR) among older adults living in nine high-altitude communities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study, carried out in inhabitants aged 60 or over from nine high-altitude Andean communities of Peru during 2013-2016. FR was divided according to the cut-off point of 8 inches (20.32 cm) and two groups were generated: poor balance ability (FR less or equal than 20.32 cm) and good balance ability (greater than 20.32 cm). Additionally, we collected socio-demographic, medical, functional and cognitive assessment information. Poisson regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with poor balance ability. Prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95CI%) are presented. RESULTS: A total of 365 older adults were studied. The average age was 73.0 ± 6.9 years (range: 60-91 years), and 180 (49.3%) participants had poor balance ability. In the adjusted Poisson regression analysis, the factors associated with poor balance ability were: alcohol consumption (PR = 1.35; 95%CI: 1.05-1.73), exhaustion (PR = 2.22; 95%CI: 1.49-3.31), gait speed (PR = 0.67; 95%CI: 0.50-0.90), having had at least one fall in the last year (PR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.19-3.46), having at least one comorbidity (PR = 1.60; 95%CI: 1.10-2.35) and having two or more comorbidities (PR = 1.61; 95%CI: 1.07-2.42) compared to none. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately a half of the older adults from these high-altitude communities had poor balance ability. Interventions need to be designed to target these balance issues and prevent adverse events from concurring to these individuals.
Authors: Diego Urrunaga-Pastor; Fernando M Runzer-Colmenares; Tania M Arones; Rosario Meza-Cordero; Silvana Taipe-Guizado; Jack M Guralnik; Jose F Parodi Journal: F1000Res Date: 2019-01-15