One-leg standing balance and functional status in an elderly community-dwelling population in northeast Italy.
OBJECTIVE
Development of simple and accurate indicators of frailty is an important research goal in aging societies. One-leg standing balance (OLSB) has been proposed as a component of a clinical index of frailty.


METHODS
We analyzed relationships between results of OLSB testing and multiple health risk factors and impairment/disability indicators in a sample of elderly subjects (N=102) participating in the Anchyses Project. Subjects were aged >65, lived in a home for the aged in Rovigo, Italy, and had no ADL dependencies or recent acute illnesses.


RESULTS
More than half (53%) failed the OLSB test while 36% were able to balance without difficulty. Significant differences were observed among OLSB performance groups in forced vital capacity (p=0.025), dynamometry (p=0.001), age, physical activity, and IADL dependency (all p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
OLSB performance is a marker of frailty and thus a potentially useful predictor of functional decline.
Drusini
A G
AG
Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy. drusini@civ.bio.unipd.it
Eleazer
G P
GP
Caiazzo
M
M
Veronese
E
E
Carrara
N
N
Ranzato
C
C
Businaro
F
F
Boland
R
R
Wieland
D
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012306:Risk