ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction The process of aging could lead to seniors being more prone to falls, which affects their quality of life. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between quality of life and gait in the elderly. Methods We used World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-Brief) Brazilian version and the Dynamic Gait Index to assess fifty-six volunteers from the northeast of Brazil. Ages ranged from 60 to 85 years. Results The Dynamic Gait Index, which indicates the probability of falls, resulted in 36.3% of the sample presenting abnormal results. There was correlation between domain 2 (psychological) and domain 4 (environment) with domain 1(Physical) and domain 3 (Social); a negative correlation between age and Domain 2; correlation between Question 1 (How would you rate your quality of life?) and domains 1, 2, and 4 and no correlation between questions 1 and 2 (How satisfied are you with your health?). Question 2 was correlated with all of the domains. There was negative association between question 1 and falls, and a slight correlation between the Dynamic Gait Index scores and Question 1. Conclusion The self-perception of the study group about their quality of life was either good or very good, even though a considerable percentage of individuals had suffered falls or reported gait disturbances.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Aging , Gait/physiology , Postural Balance , Accidental Falls , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
OBJETIVOS: analisar o desempenho de idosos no teste Dynamic Gait Index e Timed Up and Go Test para avaliar a tendência para quedas e verificar a interferência das variáveis idade, gênero e relato de eventos de quedas pregressas. MÉTODOS: trata-se de uma pesquisa clínica, descritiva, de caráter qualitativo e quantitativo para analisar os resultados obtidos da aplicação do Dynamic Gait Index e Timed Up and Go Test - versão brasileira, em 60 voluntários, de ambos os gêneros e idade entre 60 e 83 anos (média= 68,57 ± 5,94). O projeto de pesquisa foi apreciado pelo Comitê de Ética da instituição e seguiu as recomendações do parecer 196/96 da Legislação Brasileira para pesquisa com seres humanos. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se testes descritivos, teste de Mann-Whitney e Qui-Quadrado (X²), sendo que foi adotado o p<0,05. RESULTADOS: verificou-se que 37 (61,7%) dos 60 voluntários pontuaram com índices inferiores ao padrão de normalidade no Timed Up and Go Test, enquanto, no Dynamic Gait Index 19 (31,7%) voluntários apresentaram índices inferiores ao ponto de corte. Ocorreu associação estatisticamente significante entre Dynamic Gait Index e as variáveis idade e quedas. Neste estudo o Timed Up and Go Test apresentou associação estatisticamente significante com as variáveis quedas e gênero. Encontraram-se valores estatisticamente significantes na comparação entre as variáveis. CONCLUSÃO: foi frequente a constatação de alteração funcional de equilíbrio e de marcha, e a maioria da amostra apresentou tendência para quedas. A idade associou-se com alterações de marcha e equilíbrio, o gênero com tendência para quedas, e os relatos de eventos de quedas pregressas com os dois instrumentos ...
PURPOSE: to evaluate and characterize the balance during gait using the Dynamic Gait Index and Time Up and Go Test Brazilian version and the interference of the variables gender, age and falling events. METHODS: this is a clinical research, descriptive, qualitative and quantitative to analyze the results of applying the Dynamic Gait Index and Time Up and Go Test -Brazilian version, in 60 volunteers of both sexes and aged between 60 and 83 years (mean = 68, 57 ± 5.94). The research project was appreciated by the Ethics Committee of the institution and followed the recommendations of the opinion 196/96. For data analysis we used descriptive tests, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square (X ²), and was adopted at p <0.05. RESULTS: we found that 37 (61.7%) of the 60 subjects scored with indices below the normal range in Time Up and Go Test while Dynamic Gait Index in 19 (31.7%) volunteers had rates below the cutoff point. There was a statistically significant association between Dynamic Gait Index and the variables of age and falls. In this study the Time Up and Go Test showed statistically significant association with the variables gender and falls. Values statistically significant were found in the study of the all variables. CONCLUSION: it was a frequent finding functional alteration of gait and balance, and most of the sample tended to fall. Age was associated with changes in gait and balance, gender with tendency to falls, and reports of events falls stunted with both instruments applied. The results presented here underscore the need for scientific and professional training directed at primary and secondary care in the elderly population. .
ABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: estudar a importância da pesquisa do nistagmo posicional e de posicionamento na avaliação vestibular em idosos. MÉTODO: estudo retrospectivo e descritivo. Foram analisados 70 prontuários de pacientes com idade superior a 60 anos submetidos à avaliação vestibular, divididos em dois grupos: grupo A composto por 35 prontuários com resultados da avaliação do nistagmo posicional e diagnóstico vestibular e grupo B composto por 35 prontuários com resultados da avaliação do nistagmo de posicionamento e diagnóstico vestibular. RESULTADOS: a pesquisa do nistagmo de posição destacou uma parcela significante de disfunção vestibular periférica no Grupo A e a pesquisa do nistagmo de posicionamento um número expressivo de vertigem posicional no Grupo B, que, ainda, apresentou prevalência de resultados normais. Não foram encontradas diferenças significantes entre os dois grupos para as variáveis, gênero e idade. CONCLUSÃO: a pesquisa do nistagmo de posição auxiliou na identificação de alterações vestibulares periféricas e a de posicionamento identificou a vertigem posicional, revelando que a introdução deste último parâmetro de avaliação foi positiva, porém não substitui o a pesquisa do nistagmo de posição.
PURPOSE: to study the importance of positional nystagmus and positioning in vestibular assessment in the elderly. METHOD: retrospective descriptive study. It was analyzed evaluation charts of 70 patients aged over 60 years submitted of vestibular assessment. These charts were divided into two groups: group A composed of 35 charts with evaluation results of the positional nystagmus and vestibular diagnosis and group B with 35 charts with the results of the evaluation positional nystagmus and vestibular diagnosis. RESULTS: nystagmus position highlighted a significant number of peripheral vestibular dysfunction in Group A and nystagmus positioning a large number of positional vertigo in Group B, in which, also, was founded a prevalence of normal results. No significant differences it was found between the two groups for the variables, gender and age. CONCLUSION: the nystagmus position test allowed identifying peripheral vestibular disorders and positioning nystagmus to identify positional vertigo, pointing that the introduction of the latter test was useful but not replace the nystagmus position evaluation.