Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis of Posture and Gait Parameters to Prevent Frailty Condition and Fall Risk in the Elderly

Abstract

Prevention strategies should be constantly improved to manage falls and frailty in the elderly. Therefore, we aimed at creating a screening and predictive protocol as a replicable model in clinical settings. Bioimpedance analysis was conducted on fifty subjects (mean age 76.9 ± 3.69 years) to obtain body composition; then, posture was analysed with a stabilometric platform. Gait performance was recorded by a 10 m walking test, six-minute walking test, and timed up and go test. After 12 months, subjects were interviewed to check for fall events. Non-parametric analysis was used for comparisons between fallers and non-fallers and between able and frail subjects. ROC curves were obtained to identify the predictive value of falling risk and frailty. Path length (area under the curve, AUC = 0.678), sway area (AUC = 0.727), and sway speed (AUC = 0.778) resulted predictive factors of fall events (p < 0.05). The six-minute walking test predicted frailty condition (AUC = 0.840). Timed up and go test was predictive of both frailty (AUC = 0.702) and fall events (AUC = 0.681). Stabilometry and gait tests should be, therefore, included in a screening protocol for the elderly to prevent fall events and recognize the condition of frailty at an early stage.

Integrating Real-Time Location Systems with Electronic Medical Records: A Machine Learning Approach for In-Hospital Fall Risk Prediction

“…To minimize falls, several tools have been used to assess their risks upon admission. However, these methods are constrained by their dependence on subjective assessments and patients’ recall 7–10 . Furthermore, these tools are limited in their ability to assess the changes of patient’s physical ability, which is directly related to fall probability.…”

“…To minimize falls, several tools have been used to assess their risks upon admission. However, these methods are constrained by their dependence on subjective assessments and patients' recall [7][8][9][10] .…”

Home-Based Pilates Exercise Regimen Can Alter the Balance and Trunk Mobility of Non-Exercising Middle-Aged Women: A Pilot Study

“…All such alterations in physical functioning frequently result in gait instability and reduced balance ability, limiting the social autonomy of senior people and, in some situations, causing falls. In many cases, joint degenerative disorders appear, affecting body posture and perhaps resulting in postural instability (Presta et al, 2023).…”