Postural control and limits of stability are largely preserved despite increased fear of falling in patients with low disease activity Sjögren's disease: A cross-sectional study

AimTo compare balance performance, posturographic measures, and limits of stability (LOS) between patients with Sjögren's disease (SjD) and healthy controls and examine associations with fatigue, functional disability, symptom burden, and fear of falling.MethodsThe study included 45 patients with SjD and 35 healthy controls. Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), computerized posturography, and LOS testing. Fatigue, symptom burden, fear of falling, kinesiophobia, and psychological symptoms were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient-Reported Index (ESSPRI), Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. Posturographic parameters and LOS were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA. Associations were examined using Spearman correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression.ResultsPatients with SjD had greater fatigue and fear of falling than controls (both p < 0.05), while BBS scores were statistically lower with a small absolute difference. No significant overall group effects were found for posturographic parameters or LOS, although group-related interactions occurred for balance score and directional LOS. Fear of falling was associated with poorer functional balance, greater fatigue, higher symptom burden, kinesiophobia, and depressive symptoms (all p < 0.05). Posturographic balance scores were not correlated with BBS, FACIT-F, TSK, or FES-I (all p > 0.05). ESSPRI remained independently associated with fear of falling (β = 0.347, p = 0.043).ConclusionIn patients with predominantly low systemic disease activity, posturographic performance was largely preserved despite increased fear of falling. Posturographic and clinical measures may capture complementary aspects of balance-related problems in SjD.