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Relation of arterial stiffness with postural control in older people

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Purpose

This study aimed to compare postural control without or with dual task, in patients over 65 years,depending on the degree of arterial stiffness, measured using the carotid-femoral pulse.

AbstractSection Findings

Sway path traveled and surface covered by the center of foot pressure were measured on a force platform in different postural conditions, i.e. eyes open, eyes closed and eyes open with a dual task, allowing to calculate the length function of surface (LFS), this ratio providing information about the precision (surface) of postural control and the effort made (length) by the participant. After an age-adjustment, LFS was higher in participants with high pulse wave velocity in different postural conditions especially dual task condition.

AbstractSection Message

The difficulties in maintaining the equilibrium under a dual task condition being more pronounced in people with increased arterial stiffness, it is necessary to avoid or to limit its aggravation to reduce the number of falls, one of the main causes of mortality in the elderly.

Abstract

Purpose

Arterial stiffness generates vascular alterations that may cause balance disorders and falls. This study aimed to investigate the possible link between arterial stiffness and postural control under different sensorial conditions in patients over 65 years.

Methods

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in 47 participants aged over 65 years to evaluate their arterial stiffness (high PWV). Twenty-seven participants (mean age = 70.52 ± 4.02 years, 22 females) had a normal PWV (< 10 m s−1) and 20 participants (mean age = 75.93 ± 6.11 years; 15 females) had a high PWV (≥ 10 m s−1). Postural control was evaluated using a force platform in four postural conditions: eyes open (EO) 1, eyes closed (EC), eyes open with a dual task (DT) and eyes open again (EO2). Using sway path traveled and surface covered by the center of foot pressure, we calculate the length function of surface (LFS). This ratio provides information about the precision (surface) of postural control and the effort made (length) by the subjects.

Results

After an age-adjustment, LFS was lower in EO than in EC and DT in both groups (p ≤ 0.001). LFS was higher in participants with high PWV both in eyes open and eyes closed conditions (p < 0.05). LFS increased when PWV increased in EO (p < 0.01) and EC conditions (p < 0.001) but not when a dual task was performed.

Conclusion

Difficulties in maintaining equilibrium under a dual-task condition are more pronounced in people with increased arterial stiffness. These data suggest that understanding of the influence of the arterial stiffness level on specific balance control parameters could contribute to propose better balance-oriented rehabilitation programs in older adults in an attempt to prevent fall.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Dr. Art Mallinson (Vancouver, British Columbia, CA) for his helpful advice in the final read-through of the manuscript.

Funding

This study was promoted by the Nancy University Hospital, France, which, as promoter, according to the law, paid for the study’s insurance coverage.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Médecine de Nancy, EA 3450 DevAH, Développement, Adaptation et Handicap, Université de Lorraine, 54500, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Laetitia Peultier-Celli, Alexis Lion, Séverine Buatois, René Gueguen & Philippe P. Perrin

  2. Laboratory for the Analysis of Posture, Equilibrium and Motor Function (LAPEM), University Hospital of Nancy, 54500, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Laetitia Peultier-Celli, Alexis Lion, Séverine Buatois, René Gueguen & Philippe P. Perrin

  3. Fédération Luxembourgeoise des Associations de Sport de Santé, 1445, Strassen, Luxembourg

    Alexis Lion

  4. Luxembourg Institute of Research in Orthopedics Sports Medicine and Science, 1460, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Alexis Lion

  5. University of Lorraine, Inserm, DCAC, 54000, Nancy, France

    Ghassan Watfa & Athanase Benetos

  6. University of Lorraine, University Hospital of Nancy, Pôle « Maladie du Vieillissement, Gérontologie et Soins Palliatifs », 54000, Nancy, France

    Athanase Benetos

Authors
  1. Laetitia Peultier-Celli
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  7. Philippe P. Perrin
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Contributions

All the authors contribute to the study concept and design. LP-C, AL and SB realized the posturography recordings. GW and AB realized the cardiovascular investigations determining the assignment in a given group. Statistical analyses were made under the supervision of RG, statistician. PhP is principal investigator of the study. All the authors contribute to the writing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe P. Perrin.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

The study was approved by the French Medical Ethical Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Est III de Lorraine) and by the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety.

Informed consent

All the participants gave their written informed consent prior to the study.

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All the authors consent for publication.

Availability of data and material

The Direction for Research of the Nancy University Hospital, as study Promoter (which is not Investigator of the study), is the owner of the data and may allow their transmission according to the terms of an agreement.

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Peultier-Celli, L., Lion, A., Buatois, S. et al. Relation of arterial stiffness with postural control in older people. Eur Geriatr Med 12, 871–879 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-021-00468-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-021-00468-6

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