Identifying fallers and nonfallers with the maximal base of support width (BSW): a one-year prospective study.
The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine whether the maximal width of the base of support (BSW) measure is able to predict the risk of multiple falls in community-dwelling women. Thirty-eight community-dwelling women (mean age of 72 ± 8 years old) participated. Falls were prospectively recorded during the following year. Overall, 29 falls were recorded; six (16%) women were multiple fallers and 32 (84%) were nonfallers. There was a significant difference in the BSW between the fallers and nonfallers (F[1, 37] = 5.134 [p = .030]). A logistic regression analysis indicated a significant contribution of the BSW test to the model (odds ratio = 0.637; 95% CI [0.407, 0.993]; p = .046 per 1 cm).The cut-off score was determined to be 27.8 cm (67% sensitivity and 84% specificity). These results indicate that women with a smaller BSW at baseline had a significantly higher risk of sustaining a fall.
Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Research, Directorate of Research and Education, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Jaap
J
Swanenburg
Anne Gabrielle
AG
Mittaz Hager
Arian
A
Nevzati
Andreas
A
Klipstein
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D057187:Independent Living; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*