Use of the physical performance test to assess preclinical disability in subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and occlusion demonstrate deficits in physical performance compared with a comparison group. These deficits may indicate that a person is demonstrating preclinical disability.


METHODS
Seventy-one subjects with no known disease and 39 subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis of moderate and severe degrees or with occlusion were included.


METHODS
Physical performance was assessed with the 9-item and 7-item versions of the Physical Performance Test (PPT). Individual tasks also were timed for the subjects with disease.


RESULTS
There were significant differences between the comparison group and the subjects with carotid artery stenosis on the 9-item PPT (P<.00) and on the 7-item PPT (P<.03). Subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and occlusion demonstrated less than optimal performance on the PPT (9-item PPT, mean=27 of 36; 7-item PPT, mean=21 of 28). Subjects with moderate stenosis were the slowest in performing the task of simulated eating.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and occlusion exhibited changes in function, as indicated by their performance on the PPT relative to that of a comparison group. This finding may be indicative of preclinical disability, indicating that these people are symptomatic. This indication may affect the medical and surgical options that can be considered for their care.
Department of Physical Therapy, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, USA. nlandgraff@ysu.edu
Nancy C
NC
Landgraff
Susan L
SL
Whitney
Elaine N
EN
Rubinstein
Howard
H
Yonas
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States