Assessment of muscle mass, risk of falls and fear of falling in elderly people with diabetic neuropathy

Hudson Azevedo Pinheiro,Karla Helena Coelho Vilaça,Gustavo De Azevedo Carvalho

doi:10.1590/0103-5150.028.004.ao04

Hudson Azevedo Pinheiro, Karla Helena Coelho Vilaça + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-5150.028.004.ao04

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Abstract

Abstract Objective : To assess muscle mass, risk of falls and fear of falling in elderly adults with diabetic neuropathy (DNP). Methods : 50 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic neuropathy (NPD) participated in this study. Risk of falling was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Fear of falling was assessed by means of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Muscle mass was assessed by tetrapolar bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and Janssen's equation. Subjects were divided into two groups: one with a history of falls in the six months before study enrollment (G1) and the other without history of falls (G2). Results : There were statistically significant differences between G1 and G2 regarding lean body mass (p < 0.05), risk of falls as measured by the BBS (p < 0.01), and fear of falling as measured by the FES-I (p < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant correlation between the BBS and BIA (r = 0.45 and p < 0.01), showing that the greater the lean body mass, the lower the risk of falling. Conclusions : We found an association between lean mass, risk of falls and fear of falling in elderly adults with DNP and a history of falls from own height.

Highlights

During the aging process, there is a progressive loss of lean body mass and an increase in the proportion of body fat
All participants were diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy (DNP) according to the Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) and Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), and were divided into two groups: one with a history of falls in the six months before study enrollment (G1) and the other without history of falls (G2)
Our results showed a correlation between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores and the amount of lean body mass in the sample of elderly patients with DNP

Summary

Introduction

There is a progressive loss of lean body mass and an increase in the proportion of body fat. Among several age-related conditions, we may cite sarcopenia, which is characterized by a progressive and widespread loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and/or muscular performance. It leads to a poor health status, increased risk of falls and fractures, impaired functional capacity and increased risk of death. Neurological dysfunction is common people with diabetes and is usually associated with inadequate glycemic control. It can cause diabetic neuropathy (DNP), which is defined as "the presence of symptoms and/or signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction in people with diabetes after the exclusion of other causes". DNP leads to reduced tactile, thermal, vibratory and pain sensibility due to ischemic lesions of peripheral nerves [7, 8, 9]

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