Determining Cut-off Points for High Risk of Falling and Normal Mobility in the Portuguese Version of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale

• Autor(a) principal: Branco, Pedro Soares; MD, PhD. Chefe de Serviço de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação – Hospital de Curry Cabral. Responsável pela Unidade de Ensino de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25759/spmfr.106

Introduction: Falls are one of the greatest health problems in the elderly, causing high mortality, morbidity, disability and premature institutionalization. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale evaluates balance in a broad set of activities. It was translated and adapted for several other languages and settings, including the Portugal-Portuguese “Escala CEEA”. This instrument lacks high risk of falling and normal mobility cut-off points. Objectives: To determine cut-off points for high risk of falling and normal mobility of the “Escala CEEA”. Methods: 90 evaluations of 50 individuals aged 65 years or older, referring balance impairment and/or history of falls. Evaluations comprised the “Escala CEEA” and the timed “up & go” (TUG) test. The TUG cut-off point of 13,5 seconds was used to determine the “Escala CEEA” cut-off point for high risk of falling. The TUG cut-off point of 12 seconds was used to determine the “Escala CEEA” scale cut-off point for normal mobility in women. In each case, “Escala CEEA” sensibility and specificity were analysed and the area under the curve (AUC) was determined. Results: The best “Escala CEEA” cut-off point corresponding to the TUG test cut-off point of 13,5 seconds was 695. The best “Escala CEEA” cut-off point corresponding to the TUG test cut-off point of 12 seconds was 795. Conclusions: Balance evaluation instruments cut-off points are clinically useful in the identification of community- dwelling elderly in high risk of falling or of losing their normal mobility. The best “Escala CEEA” cut-off point for high risk of falling was 700 (gross score), with a sensibility of 71,8% and a specificity of 73,7%. For elderly women between 65 and 85 years of age, the best “Escala CEEA” cut-off point for normal mobility was 800 (gross score), with a sensibility of 70,1% and a specificity of 72,2%. Keywords: Activities of Daily Living; Elderly; Postural Balance; Questionnaires.