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D. Lipardo1,2, W. Tsang3,2
1University of Santo Tomas, College of Rehabilitation Sciences-Department of Physical Therapy, Manila, Philippines, 2Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 3Open University of Hong Kong, School of Nursing and Health Studies-Department of Physiotherapy, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered a predictor for falls among older adults. However, a more comprehensive understanding of fall-related physiological and physical factors in older adults with and without MCI is sparse.
Purpose: To compare the physiological and physical risks of falling in community-dwelling older persons with and without MCI.
Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited older adults, at least 60 years old, from Manila, Philippines. They underwent a battery of tests including Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) to examine physiological fall risk, Timed-Up and Go Test (TUGT) to assess dynamic balance and functional mobility, and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) to measure gait speed.
Results: A total of 230 community-living older persons (76.5% women) with a mean age of 69.8 ± 6.8 years (range: 60-95) were recruited. With age as a confounding factor, those with MCI have statistically significant lower PPA scores or higher risk of falling (p = .002) but no significant difference in TUGT scores (p = .345) compared to those without MCI. There is no significant difference between the two groups in terms of preferred gait speed (p = .190) and fastest gait speed (p = .138) in 10MWT.
Conclusion(s): Older adults with MCI have a higher risk of falling compared to those without MCI because of poorer physiological profile. Considering age as a confounding factor, no significant difference in terms of dynamic balance and gait speed were observed between those with and those without MCI.
Implications: Future research on the effect of interventions addressing both the cognitive decline and also the physiological and physical risks of falls associated with MCI in older adults is warranted.
Funding, acknowledgements: Financial support came from the Research Studentship Scholarship - Associated Money of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Keywords: older adults, mild cognitive impairment, risk of falls
Topic: Older people
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Santo Tomas
Committee: College of Rehabilitation Sciences-Ethics Review Committee
Ethics number: SI-2016017-R1
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
