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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Frailty in Patients With Vestibular Hypofunction
Tomohiko Kamo1,2, Hirofumi Ogihara2,3, Ryozo Tanaka2,4
1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Gunma Paz University, Gunma, Japan.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of frailty and the factors associated with frailty in patients with vestibular hypofunction.
Design:
This observational study included 185 individuals with dizziness aged 40 and above who suffered from chronic vestibular hypofunction. We defined frailty using the diagnostic algorithm by the revised Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Frailty, prefrailty, and robust were defined as including 3 to 5, 1 to 2, and 0 points, respectively. For comparison, we also assessed the prevalence of frailty in community-dwelling adults over 40 years old (control group, n = 203).
Results:
The average ages for the groups with vestibular hypofunction and the control were 72.0 ± 10.1 and 69.8 ± 8.2 years, respectively. In the vestibular hypofunction group (185 patients), 32 were identified as frail (17.3%) and 103 as prefrail (55.7%). Of the patients with vestibular hypofunction aged 65 years or older (n = 151), 31 (20.5%) were frail and 80 (53.0%) were prefrail. In the control group, consisting of 203 community-dwelling adults, 15 were identified as frail (7.0%) and 108 as prefrail (54.0%). Among patients with vestibular hypofunction, 64 (34.6%) exhibited low gait speed, the most common of the frailty components. Age, female, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory were associated with frailty and prefrailty in patients with vestibular hypofunction, after adjustment for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
The present study demonstrates that the prevalence of frailty in patients with vestibular hypofunction is higher than that in community-dwelling adults. Therefore, evaluating frailty in patients with vestibular hypofunction is crucial for identifying those at higher risk and implementing early interventions such as dietary guidance and exercises to strengthen the lower body along with vestibular rehabilitation.
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