Gender Differences in Postural Instability by Posturography among Patients with Prehypertension

Objectives: Postural instability can significantly affect daily functions. Prehypertension, a growing concern that is known to impair physical function and disrupt autonomic balance. This study aimed to assess the postural stability in prehypertensive individuals compared to normotensive controls. Materials and Methods: After obtaining informed consent, 60 prehypertensive and 60 normotensive individuals were recruited. Participants aged 18–50 years, of both genders, with prehypertension and normotension were included. Age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), pulse rate, and blood pressure were noted. Posturography was performed using a Nintendo Wii Fit Plus balance board, which measured center of pressure (CoP) displacement and sway distance. Results: Displacement of CoP was significantly higher among prehypertensive males compared to normotensive controls in the baseline position (145.17 ± 88.58 cm vs. 105.6 ± 22.65 cm; P = 0.024) and right sway position (98.27 ± 88.31 cm vs. 45.1 ± 17.92 cm; P = 0.003). Baseline sway distance was also significantly elevated in prehypertensive males (1.5 ± 1.97 cm vs. 0.33 ± 0.47 cm; P = 0.004). Among females, displacement of CoP was significantly higher in prehypertensives in the baseline (125.12 ± 63.15 cm vs. 87.48 ± 22.91 cm; P = 0.004) and eyes-closed positions (115.7 ± 62.7 cm vs. 90.27 ± 20.17 cm; P = 0.042). Sway distance in the eyes-open position was significantly lower in prehypertensive females compared to normotensives (0.72 ± 0.48 cm vs. 1.63 ± 0.68 cm; P < 0.001). Within the prehypertensive group, males were significantly younger than females (38.23 ± 7.42 years vs. 43.27 ± 7.36 years; P = 0.011). No significant differences were observed in BMI ( P = 0.738), systolic blood pressure ( P = 0.116), diastolic blood pressure ( P = 0.550), or pulse rate ( P = 0.060) between male and female prehypertensives. Displacement of CoP across all positions did not differ significantly between the sexes (all P > 0.05). However, sway distance in the eyes-open position was significantly lower in prehypertensive females compared to males (0.72 ± 0.48 cm vs. 1.5 ± 1.94 cm; P = 0.021). Conclusion: Postural instability is common in prehypertensive individuals, with notable gender-specific differences in balance control strategies. These findings emphasize the need for early detection and targeted interventions to mitigate balance impairments in prehypertensive populations.