Fall Risk and Related Factors in Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction:The aim of this study was to determine the fall risk in patients with knee osteoarthritis with an objective computerized technique and to evaluate the potential risk factors for falls in these patients.Materials and Method: Patients with knee osteoarthritis and controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Gender, age, and body mass index were recorded. Pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used to assess the patients and the Falls Efficacy Scale International was used for the evaluation of fall efficacy. Knee radiographs were recorded with the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale. Fall risk analysis was performed by using the Tetrax Interactive Balance System.Results: One hundred patients with knee osteoarthritis and 30 controls were included. The age, gender, and body mass index scores were similar between the groups. Falls Efficacy Scale International scores were significantly higher in the cases than in the controls (p<0.000). Using a computerized system, significantly higher fall risk results (p<0.000) and significantly low, moderate, and high fall risk distribution were recorded in the cases than in the controls (p<0.000). Fall risk was significantly related to age, pain, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores of the patients.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated a higher fall risk in patients with knee osteoarthritis than in healthy individuals. This higher risk was shown even inå the early radiographic phases of the disease related to age, pain, and dysfunction. An understanding of factors on postural control seems to be critical in successful fall prevention in these patients.Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Knee; Accidental falls; Postural balance Giriş: Bu çalışmanın amacı diz osteoartriti olan hastalardaki düşme riskini komputerize bir teknikle değerlendirmek ve bu hastalarda düşme riski için potansiyel risk faktörlerini belirlemektir.Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, diz osteoartritli hastalar ve kontrol vakaları kesitsel olarak değerlendirildi. Katılımcıların cinsiyet, yaş ve beden kütle indeksi değerleri kaydedildi. Ağrı görsel analog skala ile, kısıtlılık "The Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index" ile, düşme etkisi ise "Falls Efficacy Scale International" ile değerlendirildi. KellgrenLawrence sınıflandırması kullanılarak diz radyografileri değerlendirildi. Düşme riski analizi ise "Tetrax Interactive Balance System" kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi.Bulgular: Diz osteoartritli 100 hasta ve 30 kontrol vakası incelemeye alındı. Yaş, cinsiyet ve beden kütle indeksi değerleri gruplar arasında benzerdi. "Falls Efficacy Scale International" değerleri diz osteoartritli hastalarda kontrol grubundan anlamlı şekilde yüksekti (p<0.000). Kullanılan komputerize sistemle, diz osteoartiti olan hastalarda kontrollere göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı şekilde yüksek düşme riski (p<0.000) ve düşük, orta ve yüksek düşme riski dağılımı kaydedildi (p<0.000). Düşme riski hast...

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