Lower-limb hypopallesthesia: A risk factor for falls in cognitively intact non-diabetic older adults. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morel, Julie; Gentric, Armelle; Annweiler, Cédric
• Is Part Of: Maturitas. Volume 143(2021)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Peripheral neuropathies -- Hypopallesthesia -- Fall history -- Older adults; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Middle Aged -- Periodicals; Climatère -- Périodiques; Ménopause -- Périodiques; Climacterium; Climacteric; Menopause; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 612.66
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-5122

Abstract

Highlights: Lower-limb hypopallesthesia is associated with a history of falls in cognitively intact non-diabetic older adults. This association was found in the sample of 157 people. Systematization of the measurement of hypopallesthesia would be to the benefit of early fall prevention programmes. Abstract: Peripheral neuropathies (PN) in older adults often involve altered vibrational perception, i.e. hypopallesthesia. The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether age-related lower-limb hypopallesthesia is associated with a history of falls in cognitively intact non-diabetic older adults. The study population comprised 157 people (mean, 71.5 ± 3.8years, 45.3 % female, 19.7 % with a history of falls). Fallers more often exhibited hypopallesthesia than non-fallers (13.3 % versus 1.6 %, P = 0.04). Multiple logistic regression showed that hypopallesthesia (odds ratio (OR) = 19.5 [95 % confidence interval (CI): 2.7–143.7], P = 0.004) was associated with the history of falls in this sample of cognitively intact non-diabetic older adults.