Assessment of balance performance and fear of falling in acromegalic patients: a comparative study

Abstract

Background: Acromegaly may lead to balance disturbances and fear of falling due to changes in body composition and co-morbidities.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate balance and fear of falling in acromegalic patients and their relation with disease characteristics.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight acromegalic patients and 41 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled in the study. The median ages of the patients and controls were 48 (25-75) and 50 (25-67) yr, respectively. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and one-leg stance test (OLST) were used to compare dynamic and static balance respectively, 50 meters walking test was used to compare functional capacity and falls efficacy scale-international (FES-I) was used to compare fear of falling between the groups.

Results: Balance tests (BBS and 50 meter walking test) and fear of falling (FES-I) were significantly disturbed in patients compared with controls. There was no significant difference in OLST. BBS and OLST were negatively and FES-I was positively correlated with age. FES-I was negatively correlated with BBS and OLST was positively correlated with 50 meters walking test. Only OLST was negatively correlated with disease duration. Logistic regression analysis revealed that balance was not affected by the presence of co-morbidities, postoperative vision loss and disease control.

Conclusions: This is the first study showing that balance is disturbed in acromegalic patients. This disturbance is not related to disease control and co-morbidities but somewhat to disease duration.