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Progression of White Matter Hyperintensities of Presumed Vascular Origin Increases the Risk of Falls in Older People
METHODS: A population-based sample aged more than 60 years was randomly selected from the electoral roll and followed up 2.5 years apart with two phases of measurement. Magnetic resonance imaging scans from both time points were subjected to automated segmentation to derive WMH volumes. Falls were recorded prospectively over 12 months after the second magnetic resonance imaging measurement. A generalized linear model was used to estimate the relative risk of multiple falls associated with WMH progression adjusted for confounders.
RESULTS: There were 187 people (mean age 70.4, SD 6.5) with a mean follow-up of 2.5 (SD 0.4) years. Over 12 months, 35 (18.7%) participants reported multiple falls. A greater progression of WMH was associated with an increased risk of multiple falls (adjusted relative risk 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.70, p = .05) independent of baseline WMH volume, duration of follow-up, age, sex, and total intracranial volume. This association was unchanged when adjusted for medical history, peripheral sensorimotor factors, gait speed, cognition, medications, mood, and magnetic resonance imaging infarcts.
CONCLUSION: Greater WMH progression independently increased the risk of multiple falls. Interventions to slow the progression of WMH may be successful in reducing this risk.
History
Publication title
Journals of Gerontology. Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical SciencesVolume
7Pagination
360-366ISSN
1758-535XDepartment/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
Oxford University PressPlace of publication
United StatesRights statement
Copyright 2014 The AuthorRepository Status
- Restricted