Impaired body balance, fine motor function and hearing in women with Turner syndrome

Fractures are related to falling. Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with hypogonadism, osteoporosis and fractures and has been considered as a syndrome of early ageing. The aim was to study whether fine motor function (FM) and body balance (BB) were impaired and related to genotype, fractures, metabolic variables and hearing.

Cross-sectional study.

TS women, n = 75, mean age 30 years (range 16-59) and treated with oestrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at the out-patient clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden, and 31 healthy controls, mean age 37 years (range 24-63).

Six FM and eight BB tests with open and closed eyes, respectively, were done. Bone mineral density was estimated with Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Presence/absence of fractures was noted, blood samples were taken and audiometry was done in the TS women.

TS women had poorer FM (27.4 +/- 6.0 vs. 32.8 +/- 2.2; P < 0.0001) and BB (28.0 +/- 8.1 vs. 34.7 +/- 2.4; P < 0.0001) than controls. FM was poorer in TS women with hearing aids compared to those without (P < 0.05). FM and BB were negatively correlated with age, waist : hip ratio and positively correlated with hearing, and bone mineral density, and BB was negatively correlated with physical activity in TS women. BB correlated negatively with age in controls. FM, BB and hearing function were poorer in 45,X, nonmosaics, than in 45,X/46,XX, mosaics.

FM and BB were poorer in adult TS women on HRT than in controls. Higher age, hearing impairment, osteoporosis, abdominal obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and the TS per se were strong determinants, and mosaicism mitigated both fine motor function and BB in TS.