The Aachen Mobility and Balance Index to measure physiological falls risk: a comparison with the Tinetti POMA Scale

Effect of a Baduanjin intervention on the risk of falls in the elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Falls are a global public problem and may be an important cause of death in older adults. However, older adults with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) are more likely to fall and suffer more damage than older adults with normal cognitive function, which shows the importance of preventing falls. More and more evidence shows that Baduanjin can improve the balance function of the elderly and reduce the risk of falls in the elderly with MCI, but the mechanism is still unclear. The main purpose of this study is to verify the intervention effect of Baduanjin training on the risk of falls in elderly people with MCI and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of Baduanjin training in reducing the risk of falls in MCI patients.

METHODS

In this prospective study, outcome assessor-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial, a total of 72 eligible participants will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) into the 12-week Baduanjin exercise intervention (60 min per session, three sessions per week), the 12-week brisk walking group(60 min per session, three sessions per week) or the 12-week health education group. Primary outcome is the Fall-Risk Self-Assessment Questionnaire(FRQ), and secondary outcomes are fall efficacy index, gait assessment, balance function, lower limb muscle strength, cognitive function, activities of daily living(ADL) and MRI scans. In addition to the MRI scans, which will be measured before and after the intervention,other primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks (at the end of the intervention) and after an additional 12-week follow-up period. The mixed linear model will be conducted to observe the intervention effects.

DISCUSSION

This trial will investigate the effect of Baduanjin exercise on the prevention of falls in elderly individuals with MCI, explore the imaging mechanism of Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals with MCI from the perspective of vestibular neural network, and provide strong evidence for Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals with MCI, as well as provide new ideas and approaches for the central mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TRC) rehabilitation methods to intervene in falls in elderly.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2200057520. Registered on 14 March 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=146592 .

The influence of vitamin D on handgrip strength in elderly trauma patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The treatment of elderly patients is an increasing challenge and the long-term sequelae often affect activities of daily living and quality of life in those patients. Handgrip strength (HGS) appears as a promising value to predict the outcome after trauma in elderly patients and to assess the overall muscle strength. Besides the possible role of psychological and hormonal factors, vitamin D may have a positive influence. Furthermore, some data suggest that Vitamin D is beneficial regarding muscle strength and possibly prevents further falls and injuries in orthogeriatric patients. The purpose of this study was to identify if Vitamin D is an influencing factor for HGSin elderly trauma patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

94 elderly patients in a Level I Trauma Center aged 60 years or older were prospectively enrolled and HGS as well as serum 25-OH Vitamin D concentration (VDC) were measured. In addition, the standardized questionnaires Barthel Index (BI), Parker Mobility Score (PMS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls (SARC-F) and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Levels Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), were used to record mental health status and demographic data.

RESULTS

HGS is mainly related to age and sex in elderly trauma patients. HGS was higher in men (mean_male = 27.31 kg (± 8.11), mean_female = 15.62 kg (± 5.63), p < 0.001 and decreased with age (β_age = - 0.58, p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation between HGS and VDC exists in the overall sample (β_VDC = - 0.27, p_VDC < 0.008), which still remains after adjusting for age (p_VDC < 0.004), but is not significant after adjustment for both main confounders, age and sex (p_VDC < 0.08). Furthermore, the HGS was lower in pateints who reported frequent falls, stumbling, dizziness or a late onset of menopause, and decreased if patients felt anxious or depressed during measurements (β_{anxiety+depression} = - 0.26, p_{anxiety+depression} < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results do not support the hypothesis that Vitamin D has a positive influence on muscle strength measured by HGS. Nevertheless, this study could confirm the usefulness of HGS as a tool to detect the risk for frequent falls or stumbling. Furthermore, HGS seems to be associated with dizziness and age at onset of menopause. A significant decrease of HGS could also be shown in patients with anxiety and depression. This underlines the importance of interdisciplinary treatment of elderly trauma patients and needs to be taken into account for further studies, as especially the psychological motivation seems to have a significant influence and is sometimes not considered enough in elderly musculo-skeletal patients.

Estimating balance, cognitive function, and falls risk using wearable sensors and the sit-to-stand test

The five times sit-to-stand test (FTSS) is an established functional test, used clinically as a measure of lower-limb strength, endurance and falls risk. We report a novel method to estimate and classify cognitive function, balance impairment and falls risk using the FTSS and body-worn inertial sensors. 168 community dwelling older adults received a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment which included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Each participant performed an FTSS, with inertial sensors on the thigh and torso, either at home or in the clinical environment. Adaptive peak detection was used to identify phases of each FTSS from torso or thigh-mounted inertial sensors. Features were then extracted from each sensor to quantify the timing, postural sway and variability of each FTSS. The relationship between each feature and MMSE and BBS was examined using Spearman's correlation. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to examine the intra-session reliability of each feature. A Poisson regression model with an elastic net model selection procedure was used to estimate MMSE and BBS scores, while logistic regression and sequential forward feature selection was used to classify participants according to falls risk, cognitive decline and balance impairment. BBS and MMSE were estimated using cross-validation with low root mean squared errors of 2.91 and 1.50, respectively, while the cross-validated classification accuracies for balance impairment, cognitive decline, and falls risk were 81.96, 72.71, and 68.74%, respectively. The novel methods reported provide surrogate measures which may have utility in remote assessment of physical and cognitive function.

Fear of Falling, Recurrence of Falls, and Quality of Life in Patients with a Low Energy Fracture-Part II of an Observational Study

Background and objective: Falls in elderly cause injury, mortality, and loss of independence, making Fear of Falling (FoF) a common health problem. FoF relates to activity restriction and increased fall risk. A voluntary intervention including fall risk assessment and prevention strategies was implemented to reduce falls in elderly patients with low energy fractures (LEF). The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate FoF and the number of subsequent falls in trauma patients one year after a LEF. The secondary aim was to examine how FoF affects patients' lives in terms of Quality of Life (QoL), mobility, and activity levels. Finally, participation in the voluntary fall prevention program (FPP) was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Observational cohort study in one Swiss trauma center. LEF patients, treated between 2012 and 2015, were analyzed one year after injury. Primary outcomes were Falls-Efficacy Score-International (FES-I) and number of subsequent falls. Secondary outcomes were EuroQoL-5-Dimensions-3-Levels (EQ5D-3L), mobility, activity levels, and participation in the FPP. Subgroup analysis was performed for different age categories. Results: 411 patients were included for analysis. Mean age was 72 ± 9.3, mean FES-I was 21.1 ± 7.7. Forty percent experienced FoF. A significant negative correlation between FoF and QoL (R = 0.64; p < 0.001) was found. High FoF correlated with lower activity levels (R= -0.288; p < 0.001). Six percent visited the FPP. Conclusions: At follow-up, 40% suffered from FoF which seems to negatively affect patients' QoL. Nevertheless, participation in the FPP was low. Simply informing patients about their susceptibility to falls and recommending participation in FPPs seems insufficient to motivate and recruit patients into FPPs. We suggest implementing repeated fall risk- and FoF screenings as standard procedures in the follow-up of LEF, especially in patients aged over 75 years.

[Evaluation of a simple screening tool for ambulant fall prevention]

BACKGROUND

An individual's risk of falling is generally difficult to detect and it is likely to be underestimated. Thus, preventive measures are challenging and they demand sufficient integration and implementation into aftercare and outpatient management. The Aachen Falls Prevention Scale (AFPS) is a quick and easy tool for patient-driven fall risk assessment. Older adults' risk of falling is identified in a suitable manner and they then have the opportunity to independently assess and monitor their risk of falling.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the AFPS as a simple screening tool in geriatric trauma patients via the identification of influencing factors, e.g. objective or subjective fall risk, fear of falling (FOF) and demographic data. In this context, we investigated older adults' willingness to take part in special activities concerning fall prevention.

METHODS

Retrospectively, all patients over 70 years of age who received in-hospital fracture treatment between July 2014 and April 2016 were analyzed at a level I trauma center. After identification of 884 patients, participants completed a short questionnaire (47 questions, yes/no, Likert scale) comprising the AFPS. A history of falls in the past year was considered an indicator of a balance disorder. In addition, ambulant patients were invited to participate between July and August 2016.

RESULTS

In total, 201 patients (mean 80.4 years, range 63-97 years) performed a self-assessment based on the AFPS. After steps 1 and 2 of the AFPS had been completed, 95 (47%) participants rated their subjective risk of falling as high (more than 5 points). Of the participants 84 (42%) were objectively classified as "fallers" with significant effects on their AFPS evaluation and rating of their subjective risk of falling. Furthermore, 67% of the participants identified a general practitioner as their main contact person, and 43% of the respondents viewed the AFPS as a beneficial screening tool in fall risk evaluation (8% negative attitudes). Only 12% of the participants could imagine using the AFPS app version as a feasible option.

CONCLUSION

It would be advantageous to pretest at-risk individuals in their environment using a simple self-assessment approach, with the main purpose of identifying potential balance problems. With this approach, cost savings in the healthcare system are possible, combined with a higher health-related quality of life in the geriatric population.

The Aachen Falls Prevention Scale: Multi-Study Evaluation and Comparison

Background

Fall risk assessment is a time-consuming and resource-intensive activity. Patient-driven self-assessment as a preventive measure might be a solution to reduce the number of patients undergoing a full clinical fall risk assessment.

Objective

The aim of this study was (1) to analyze test accuracy of the Aachen Falls Prevention Scale (AFPS) and (2) to compare these results with established fall risk assessment measures identified by a review of systematic reviews.

Methods

Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating curves (ROC) of the AFPS were calculated based on data retrieved from 2 independent studies using the AFPS. Comparison with established fall risk assessment measures was made by conducting a review of systematic reviews and corresponding meta-analysis. Electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses that reviewed fall risk assessment measures between the years 2000 and 2018. The review of systematic reviews was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement. The Revised Assessment of Multiple SysTemAtic Reviews (R-AMSTAR) was used to assess the methodological quality of reviews. Sensitivity, specificity, and ROC were extracted from each review and compared with the calculated values of the AFPS.

Results

Sensitivity, specificity, and ROC of the AFPS were evaluated based on 2 studies including a total of 259 older adults. Regarding the primary outcome of the AFPS subjective risk of falling, pooled sensitivity is 57.0% (95% CI 0.467-0.669) and specificity is 76.7% (95% CI 0.694-0.831). If 1 out of the 3 subscales of the AFPS is used to predict a fall risk, pooled sensitivity could be increased up to 90.0% (95% CI 0.824-0.951), whereas mean specificity thereby decreases to 50.0% (95% CI 0.42-0.58). A systematic review for fall risk assessment measures produced 1478 articles during the study period, with 771 coming from PubMed, 530 from Web of Science, and 177 from EMBASE. After eliminating doublets and assessing full text, 8 reviews met the inclusion criteria. All were of sufficient methodological quality (R-AMSTAR score ≥22). A total number of 9 functional or multifactorial fall risk assessment measures were extracted from identified reviews, including Timed Up and Go test, Berg Balance Scale, Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment, St Thomas’s Risk Assessment Tool in Falling Elderly, and Hendrich II Fall Risk Model. Comparison of these measures with pooled sensitivity and specificity of the AFPS revealed a sufficient quality of the AFPS in terms of a patient-driven self-assessment tool.

Conclusions

It could be shown that the AFPS reaches a test accuracy comparable with that of the established methods in this initial investigation. However, it offers the advantage that the users can perform the self-assessment independently at home without involving trained health care professionals.

Postural responses of galvanic vestibular stimulation: comparison between groups of older adults and young people

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of vestibular manipulation on the postural sway and muscle activation of younger and older adults. Methods: The study analyzed the effects of three intensity levels of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) (0.3; 0.6 and 1m) on the pattern of muscle activity and center of pressure (CP) displacements of 12 older adults (EG) and 12 young adults (CG) while maintaining their balance on a stable surface, with no vision. Results: The EG showed a positive correlation between CP displacement and muscle activity and GVS intensity. On the other hand, the magnitude of postural response in the EG was not modulated in accordance with GVS intensities. Additionally, during the highest GVS intensity level (1 mA) greater muscle activity was used to increase stiffness, decrease the amplitude of oscillation and ensure stability. This unusual response characterizes a pattern of co-activation and is perhaps a safety mechanism to ensure stability. Conclusion: The EG individuals were not able to select the appropriate motor strategy to efficiently compensate the effects of GVS. This unusual strategy reflects deficits in the vestibular system of older adults, a fact which negatively interferes with their ability to reevaluate sensory information.

Satisfying Product Features of a Fall Prevention Smartphone App and Potential Users' Willingness to Pay: Web-Based Survey Among Older Adults

Background

Prohibiting falls and fall-related injuries is a major challenge for health care systems worldwide, as a substantial proportion of falls occur in older adults who are previously known to be either frail or at high risk for falls. Hence, preventive measures are needed to educate and minimize the risk for falls rather than just minimize older adults’ fall risk. Health apps have the potential to address this problem, as they enable users to self-assess their individual fall risk.

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify product features of a fall prevention smartphone app, which increase or decrease users’ satisfaction. In addition, willingness to pay (WTP) was assessed to explore how much revenue such an app could generate.

Methods

A total of 96 participants completed an open self-selected Web-based survey. Participants answered various questions regarding health status, subjective and objective fall risk, and technical readiness. Seventeen predefined product features of a fall prevention smartphone app were evaluated twice: first, according to a functional (product feature is implemented in the app), and subsequently by a dysfunctional (product feature is not implemented in the app) question. On the basis of the combination of answers from these 2 questions, the product feature was assigned to a certain category (must-be, attractive, one-dimensional, indifferent, or questionable product feature). This method is widely used in user-oriented product development and captures users’ expectations of a product and how their satisfaction is influenced by the availability of individual product features.

Results

Five product features were identified to increase users’ acceptance, including (1) a checklist of typical tripping hazards, (2) an emergency guideline in case of a fall, (3) description of exercises and integrated workout plans that decrease the risk of falling, (4) inclusion of a continuous workout program, and (5) cost coverage by health insurer. Participants’ WTP was assessed after all 17 product features were rated and revealed a median monthly payment WTP rate of €5.00 (interquartile range 10.00).

Conclusions

The results show various motivating product features that should be incorporated into a fall prevention smartphone app. Results reveal aspects that fall prevention and intervention designers should keep in mind to encourage individuals to start joining their program and facilitate long-term user engagement, resulting in a greater interest in fall risk prevention.

Avaliação funcional de pacientes internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva adulto do Hospital Universitário de Canoas

RESUMO A sobrevida de pacientes críticos tem aumentado com o tempo. No entanto, a imobilidade e o tempo de internação estão contribuindo para o seu declínio funcional e da sua qualidade de vida. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a independência funcional dos pacientes internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) Adulto do Hospital Universitário de Canoas. Pesquisa de coorte prospectiva executada de fevereiro a dezembro de 2016. Os pacientes foram avaliados quanto à capacidade funcional, força muscular, força de preensão palmar, mobilidade, equilíbrio e marcha. Foram avaliados 90 pacientes com média de idade de 59,6±16,1 anos, com predominância do gênero masculino (51,1%). A mediana do tempo de internação na UTI foi de 5 (3-9) dias, e de internação hospitalar de 13 (10-20) dias. Houve melhora significativa nos resultados de capacidade funcional (p<0,001), mobilidade (p=0,004) e equilíbrio (p=0,009). Os pacientes internados apresentaram um declínio funcional (com relação à normalidade) nos momentos avaliados. Entretanto, houve melhora nos valores até momento da alta hospitalar.

The "Aachen fall prevention App" - a Smartphone application app for the self-assessment of elderly patients at risk for ground level falls

Background

Fall incidents are a major problem for patients and healthcare. The “Aachen Fall Prevention App” (AFPA) represents the first mobile Health (mHealth) application (app) empowering older patients (persons 50+ years) to self-assess and monitor their individual fall risk. Self-assessment is based on the “Aachen Fall Prevention Scale,” which consists of three steps. First, patients answer ten standardized yes–no questions (positive criterion ≥ 5 “Yes” responses). Second, a ten-second test of free standing without compensatory movement is performed (positive criterion: compensatory movement). Finally, during the third step, patients rate their subjective fall risk on a 10-point Likert scale, based on the results of steps one and two. The purpose of this app is (1) to offer a low-threshold service through which individuals can independently monitor their individual fall risk and (2) to collect data about how a patient-centered mHealth app for fall risk assessment is used in the field.

Results

The results represent the first year of an ongoing field study. From December 2015 to December 2016, 197 persons downloaded the AFPA (iOS^™ and Android^™; free of charge). N = 111 of these persons voluntarily shared their data and thereby participated in the field study. Data from a final number of n = 79 persons were analyzed due to exclusion criteria (age, missing objective fall risk, missing self-assessment). The objective fall risk and the self-assessed subjective risk measured by the AFPA showed a significant positive relationship.

Conclusions

The “Aachen Fall Prevention App” (AFPA) is an mHealth app released for iOS and Android. This field study revealed the AFPA as a promising tool to raise older adults’ awareness of their individual fall risk by means of a low-threshold patient-driven fall risk assessment tool.