THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HISTORY OF FALLING AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN SUBJECTS WITH PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE

Abstract

The purpose was to determine whether peripheral arterial disease (PAD) subjects with a history of falling have more impaired physical function than their non-falling counterparts. A total of 66 subjects who had fallen over the past year and 400 PAD subjects who had not fallen were evaluated. In addition to history of falling, subjects were characterized on physical function consisting of balance, strength, ambulatory function, and monitored physical activity. Unipedal stance time was 16% shorter (p < 0.001) in the fallers than in the non-fallers (13.7 ± 1.0 vs. 16.3 ± 0.7 seconds; mean ± SEM). Additionally, the fallers took 14% longer (p = 0.022) to perform five sequential sit-to-stand transfers using an armless chair (16.9 ± 0.9 vs. 14.8 ± 0.3 seconds), covered a 16% shorter distance (p < 0.001) during a 6-minute walk test (312 ± 17 vs. 372 ± 5 meters), and were 25% less physically active (264 ± 48 vs. 352 ± 19 kcal/day, p < 0.001) than the non-fallers. In conclusion, PAD subjects with a history of falling have impaired balance, lower extremity strength, ambulatory function, and physical activity compared to their non-falling counterparts. Supported by NIA (KO1-AG00657, P60-AG12583, and VA GRECC)