Bird et al JAR 2013.pdf (1.31 MB)
The association between aeasonal variation in vitamin D, postural sway, and falls risk: an observational cohort study
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 19:48 authored by Marie-Louise BirdMarie-Louise Bird, Hill, KD, Iain RobertsonIain Robertson, Madeleine BallMadeleine Ball, Jane PittawayJane Pittaway, Andrew WilliamsAndrew WilliamsIntroduction. Low serum vitamin D levels are associated with increased postural sway. Vitamin D varies seasonally. This study investigates whether postural sway varies seasonally and is associated with serum vitamin D and falls. Methods. In a longitudinal observational study, eighty-eight independently mobile community-dwelling older adults (69.7±7.6 years) were evaluated on five occasions over one year, measuring postural sway (force platform), vitamin D levels, fall incidence, and causes and adverse outcomes. Mixed-methods Poisson regression was used to determine associations between measures. Results. Postural sway did not vary over the year. Vitamin D levels varied seasonally (P<0.001), peaking in summer. Incidence of falls (P=0.01) and injurious falls (P=0.02) were lower in spring, with the highest fall rate at the end of autumn. Postural sway was not related to vitamin D (P=0.87) or fall rates, but it was associated with fall injuries (IRR 1.59 (CI 1.14 to 2.24, P=0.007). Conclusions. Postural sway remained stable across the year while vitamin D varied seasonally. Participants with high values for postural sway demonstrated higher rates of injurious falls. This study provides important evidence for clinicians and researchers providing interventions measuring balance outcomes across seasons.
Funding
Physiotherapy Research Foundation
History
Publication title
Journal of Aging ResearchVolume
2013Article number
751310Number
751310Pagination
1-6ISSN
2090-2204Department/School
School of Health SciencesPublisher
Hindawi Publishing CorporationPlace of publication
New YorkRights statement
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Repository Status
- Open