La Scaleia B, Siena A, D'Onofrio L, Celli A, Capuzzi G, Latino A, Nateri Cara G, Maddaloni E, Zampetti S, Buzzetti R, Zago M, Lacquaniti F. Deterioration of Vestibular Motion Perception: A Risk Factor for Postural Instability and Falls in Elderly With Type 2 Diabetes.
Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2024;
40:e3845. [PMID:
39356275 DOI:
10.1002/dmrr.3845]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024]
Abstract
AIMS
To assess whether impaired vestibular perception of self-motion is a risk factor for unsteadiness and falls in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
113 participants (65-75 years old) with T2D underwent tests of roll and pitch discrimination, postural stability (Berg Balance Scale, Modified Romberg Test, and quantitative posturography), clinical examination and blood chemistry analyses. Falls 1-year after enrolment were self-reported. We performed cluster analysis based on the values of the vestibular motion thresholds, and logistic stepwise regression to compare the clinical-biochemical parameters between clusters.
RESULTS
We identified two clusters (VC1 n = 65 and VC2 n = 48 participants). VC2 had significantly (p < 0.001) higher (poorer) thresholds than VC1: mean pitch threshold 1.62°/s (95% CI 1.48-1.78) in VC2 and 0.91°/s (95% CI 0.84-0.98) in VC1, mean roll threshold 1.34°/s (95% CI 1.21-1.48) in VC2 and 0.69°/s (95% CI 0.64-0.74) in VC1. Diabetes duration was significantly (p = 0.024) longer in VC2 (11.96 years, 95% CI 9.23-14.68) than in VC1 (8.37 years, 95% CI 6.85-9.88). Glycaemic control was significantly (p = 0.014) poorer in VC2 (mean HbA1c 6.74%, 95% CI 6.47-7.06) than in VC1 (mean HbA1c 6.34%, 95% CI 6.16-6.53). VC2 had a significantly higher incidence of postural instability than VC1, with a higher risk of failing the Modified Romberg Test C4 (RR = 1.57, χ2 = 5.33, p = 0.021), reporting falls during follow-up (RR = 11.48, χ2 = 9.40, p = 0.002), and greater postural sway in the medio-lateral direction (p < 0.025).
CONCLUSIONS
Assessing vestibular motion thresholds identifies individuals with T2D at risk of postural instability due to altered motion perception and guides vestibular rehabilitation.
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