Association between physical performance and autonomic nervous system in elderly fallers
Document Type
Conference Item
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Abstract
Falls among older adults have become a global concern. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, which is implicated, can be noninvasively evaluated with heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV). The present study evaluated relationship between physical activity, physical performance and autonomic function in 92 older individuals. Continuous non-invasive cardiovascular autonomic reflexes were monitored over 5 minutes supine rest and 3 minutes standing upright. Our findings suggest that elderly fallers had poorer autonomic function, lower hand-grip strength (p< 0.001), poorer walking ability (TUG: p=0.004), greater dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (Lawton IADL: p< 0.001) and lower physical activity level (PASE: p< 0.001). Overall, Lawton IADL, PASE and Time-up and Go were significantly associated with autonomic function indices (LF-nu, HF-nu, LF/HF) and could be served as pre-screening tools to identify patients with autonomic dysfunction. Identification of specific autonomic function risk factors can be useful in the early prevention and diagnosis of recurrent falls and cardiovascular risk. © 2021 IEEE.
Keywords
Accident prevention, Blood, Blood pressure, Heart, Autonomic function, Autonomic nervous, Autonomics, Blood pressure variability, Heart rate variability, Older adults, Performance functions, Physical activity, Physical performance, System functions, Diagnosis
Divisions
fac_eng,fac_med
Funders
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman [Grant No: IPSR/RMC/UTARRF/2020-C1/G01],Universiti Malaya [Grant No: IIRG024B-2019]
Publication Title
1st National Biomedical Engineering Conference, NBEC 2021
Event Title
1st National Biomedical Engineering Conference, NBEC 2021
Event Location
Virtual, Online
Event Dates
9-10 November 2021
Event Type
conference