Using the Timed Up & Go Test in a Clinical Setting to Predict Falling in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the ability of the Timed Up & Go test to identify patients with Parkinson's disease at risk for a fall. Design Cross-sectional cohort study. Setting Sixteen participating National Parkinson's Foundation Centers of Excellence. Participants A query yielded a total of 2985 records (1828 men and 1157 women). From these, 884 were excluded because of a lack of crucial information (age, diagnosis, presence of deep brain stimulation, disease duration, inability of performing the Timed Up & Go test without assistance) at the time of testing, leaving 2097 patients included in the analysis. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure for this study was falls. The chief independent variable was the Timed Up & Go test. Results The initial model examined the prediction of falls from the Timed Up & Go test, adjusting for all study covariates. The estimated models in the imputed data sets represented a significant improvement above chance (χ2 range [df=17], 531.29–542.39, P<.001), suggesting that 74% of participants were accurately classified as a faller or nonfaller. The secondary model in which the question of whether the effect of Timed Up & Go test was invariant across disease severity demonstrated 75% of participants were accurately classified as a faller or nonfaller. Additional analysis revealed a proposed cut score of 11.5 seconds for discrimination of those who did or did not fall. Conclusions The findings suggest that the Timed Up & Go test may be an accurate assessment tool to identify those at risk for falls.

Psychometric Properties of 3 Functional Mobility Tests for People With Parkinson Disease

“…Their results indicated that, overall, 74% of their sample could be correctly classified, but classification of fallers (sensitivityϭ54%) was lower compared with classification of nonfallers (specificityϭ85%). 8 Our literature search did not result in a previous study investigating discriminant ability of a BM test.…”

“…Their results indicated that 74% of the participants with PD were correctly classified as "fallers" or "nonfallers" based on their TUG time, and they reported a cutoff score of 11.5 seconds for discrimination between those who did and did not fall. 8 Bed mobility (ie, turning, sitting, and then standing up from the bed) also has been investigated in people with PD. A 3-point ordinal rating scale method showed acceptable interrater and intrarater reliability (Cohen kappaϭ.64 -.79).…”

Role of the Timed Up and Go Test in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Unlike the SPPB, the TUG test has no ceiling effect and owing to simplicity, validity, and high reliability, its use has become widespread in health care and across different disease states and general, older populations. [12][13][14][15][16] A few studies have investigated the TUG test in patients with COPD, although, to date, these have been generally in small populations and often not with comparator groups. 6 , 8 , 17-19 Where there has been a control group, the TUG test time was increased in patients.…”

Supplementary motor area stimulation for Parkinson disease: A randomized controlled study

“…4 Finally, the Timed Up and Go test could be given to assess falling risk. 5 Author Response: Yuichiro Shirota, Masashi Hamada, Tokyo; Yoshikazu Ugawa, Fukushima, Japan: Ramos et al raised a number of interesting points regarding our study. The primary endpoint of our study was the change in UPDRS part III from the baseline.…”