The Pilot Study on the Risk of Fall Prediction in Thai Elderly Using Five Times Sit-to- Stand Test

Abstract

Background and Objective: When people become aging, it results in a decline in functioning and increases the risk of falls.  Previous studies have shown that the lower extremities muscle strength is a major factor. The objective of this study was to investigate predictive ability of the five times sit-to-stand test  (FTSST) to indicate the risk of fall in elderly.

Methods: The case control study in 28 subjects was consisted of two groups of 14 fallers  and 14 non-fallers by asving subject about the number of fall during 6 previous  months. All subjects were given the FTSST test to investigate the lower extremities muscle strength. The results of study were analyzed with statistical Receiver Operative Characteristic (ROC) curve and odds ratio. The level of statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The data demonstrated that the FTSST had good ability to predict risk of fall in elderly subjects (sensitivity= 85.71% and specificity=85.71%, AUC = 0.91 [95%CI=0.78-1.00]). The subjects who  completed the FTSST in 11 seconds or more had risk of fall 4.4 times (95%CI=1.54-12.55).

Conclusions: The lower extremity muscle weakness may result to increase risk of falls. This study  provide the important criteria to improve the physical performance in the elderly to prevent falls.