RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Development of simple and accurate indicators of frailty is an important research goal in aging societies. One-leg standing balance (OLSB) has been proposed as a component of a clinical index of frailty. METHODS: We analyzed relationships between results of OLSB testing and multiple health risk factors and impairment/disability indicators in a sample of elderly subjects (N=102) participating in the Anchyses Project. Subjects were aged >65, lived in a home for the aged in Rovigo, Italy, and had no ADL dependencies or recent acute illnesses. RESULTS: More than half (53%) failed the OLSB test while 36% were able to balance without difficulty. Significant differences were observed among OLSB performance groups in forced vital capacity (p=0.025), dynamometry (p=0.001), age, physical activity, and IADL dependency (all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OLSB performance is a marker of frailty and thus a potentially useful predictor of functional decline.
