title: Balance performance in older adults and its relationship with falling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A normal consequence of aging is a general deterioration in a number of musculoskeletal and sensory systems that affect postural control and balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate history of falls among active older individuals in Iran, and estimate the risk factors for falls among this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 448 active older subjects from rural region of Rasht city, Iran, were included. They were divided into three groups depending on their age: young-old (n = 266); middle-old (n = 154) and oldest-old (n = 28). We assessed balance performance by One-Leg Balance (OLB), Functional Reach (FR), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Romberg tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fall rate (>2 in the last year) was 27.0 %. The cut-off point 13.75 s for TUG test showed 84.7 % sensitivity and 56 % specificity. Also the best cut-off point for OLB test was 12.7 s (63 % sensitivity and 83.5 % specificity). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, BMI, diabetes, and failure in OLB, FR, and Romberg tests predicted fall risk. The decision tree classification of older individuals showed three categorical variables, which in their order of importance included diabetes, Romberg test, and OLB test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed the value of history taking about diabetes as a predictor for existing falling. Decision tree technique showed that Romberg and OLB tests help in identifying older adults with balance problems. Given the incidence and consequences of falls among older adults, large-scale prospective studies on older individuals to identify those prone to falls are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Otolaryngology Research Center, Amiralmomenin Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, 41396-38459, Rasht, Iran, mmjalali@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mir Mohammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.forename: Hooshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerami
authors.forename: Abtin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heidarzadeh
authors.forename: Robabeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soleimani
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors