Disruption of kinesthesia and position sense in the ankle joint is an independent predictor of falls in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis

Introduction: Patients undergoing HD experience more accidental falls compared to the senior population not on HD, causing increased morbidity and mortality in this patient group. In this study, we hypothesized that ankle kinesthetic position sense may have been impaired in senior HD patients with a history of falling. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients on hemodialysis aged 65 or more included to the present study. Basal timed up and go (TUG) test durations and ankle joint inclinometric deviation measurements were performed in all patients, and patients were followed for 12 months in terms of falling events. Patients who have experienced 1or more falls considered as faller group and others as non-faller group. Demographic data, laboratory values, timed up and go test durations and inclinometric deviation of ankle joint were compared between two groups. Results: Of 63 patients 25 (39.7%) were fallers. Mean inclinometric deviation of the study population was 4.1±1.9 degrees, which was significantly higher (5.5±1.9, p=0.000) among patients in the faller group when compared with patients in the non-faller (3.1±1.2) group. Age, serum albumin levels, TUG test duration, inclinometric deviation of patients have been included in the logistic regression analysis. Of these parameters, only inclinometric deviation (OR=2,627, p=0.003) was determined as an independent predictor of falls.