Citation

Veronese N, Bolzetta F, Toffanello ED, Zambon S, De Rui M, Perissinotto E, Coin A, Corti MC, Baggio G, Crepaldi G, Sergi G, Manzato E. Rejuvenation Res. 2014; 17(3): 276-284.

Affiliation

University of Padova, Department of Medicine - DIMED, Geriatrics Division, Via Giustiniani, 2 , Padova, Padova, Italy, 35128 ; ilmannato@tiscali.it.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/rej.2013.1491

PMID

24387140

Abstract

It is known that weakness in the lower limbs is associated with recurrent falls in old people. Among the tests routinely used to assess lower extremity strength, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is one of the most often used, but its relationship with recurrent falls is poorly investigated. We aimed to find if SPPB is related to recurrent falling in a sample of 2710 older-aged people, and to ascertain which test in the SPPB is most strongly associated with a higher rate of falls. In this cross-sectional study, we demonstrated that participants scoring 0-6 in the SPPB were more likely to be recurrent fallers than those scoring 10-12 (OR 3.46, 95%CI: 2.04-5.88 in women; OR 3.82, 95%CI: 1.77-8.52, in men). SPPB scores of 7-9 were only associated with women being more likely to be recurrent fallers (OR 2.03, 95%CI 1.28-3.22). When the SPPB items were analyzed separately, for women even a lower in gait speed was significantly associated with the presence of recurrent falls (OR 2.11; 95%CI 1.04-4.30), whereas in men only a significant increase in the time taken to complete the 5 timed chair stands test was associated with a higher rate of falls (OR 2.75; 95%CI 1.21-6.23). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that SPPB scores ≤6 is associated with a higher fall-rate in old people of both genders; in females even SPPB score between 7 and 9 identify subjects at higher likelihood of being recurrent fallers. Among the single items of the SPPB, the most strongly associated to falls were gait speed in women, and the 5 timed chair stands test in men.

Language: en