Alvarenga Patrícia P, Pereira Daniele S, Anjos Daniela M C
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
Rev Bras Fisioter. 2010 Nov-Dec;14(6):491-6.
Elderly diabetics tend to show cognitive deficits related to more complex processes such as the executive function, which can lead to a greater risk of falls.
The aims of this study were to compare the functional mobility, the risk of falls and the executive function among elderly with and without type 2 diabetes, and to check the correlation between these variables.
Forty community elderly participated in the study and were divided into two groups: G1 elderly with type 2 diabetes and G2 elderly without diabetes, being the variables age, body mass index and gender similar between the groups. The functional mobility and the risk of falls were assessed by the "Timed Up and Go" test (TUG and cognitive TUG) and the executive function was assessed by the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) (animal category).
Elderly with diabetes showed worse performance in the verbal fluency test (G1:14.9 ± 4.5; G2:17.7 ± 5.6; p = 0.031). A statistically between-group difference was observed regarding the functional mobility; being the G1 presenting worse performance in TUG (G1:10.5 ± 1.8 sec; G2:8.9 ± 1.9 sec; p = 0.01) and cognitive TUG (G1:13.9 ± 3.2 sec; G2:10.9 ± 2.3 sec; p = 0.004) tests. A significant correlation was observed between the cognitive TUG and VFT only in G1 (G1: Spearman's rho = -0.535; p = 0.015; G2: Spearman's rho =-0.250; p = 0.288).
Diabetics presented worse performance in the functional mobility and in the verbal fluency test than non-diabetics elderly that suggests a greater risk of falls for the elderly with diabetes. The inclusion of these evaluation parameters for diabetics on the physical therapy clinical practice is crucial in order to maintain the functionality and to prevent falls.
老年糖尿病患者往往表现出与执行功能等更复杂过程相关的认知缺陷，这可能导致更高的跌倒风险。
本研究的目的是比较有和没有2型糖尿病的老年人的功能活动能力、跌倒风险和执行功能，并检查这些变量之间的相关性。
40名社区老年人参与了本研究，分为两组：G1组为患有2型糖尿病的老年人，G2组为未患糖尿病的老年人，两组之间的年龄、体重指数和性别等变量相似。通过“计时起立行走”测试（TUG和认知TUG）评估功能活动能力和跌倒风险，通过言语流畅性测试（VFT）（动物类别）评估执行功能。
糖尿病老年人在言语流畅性测试中的表现较差（G1组：14.9±4.5；G2组：17.7±5.6；p = 0.031）。在功能活动能力方面观察到组间存在统计学差异；G1组在TUG测试（G1组：10.5±1.8秒；G2组：8.9±1.9秒；p = 0.01）和认知TUG测试（G1组：13.9±3.2秒；G2组：10.9±2.3秒；p = 0.004）中的表现更差。仅在G1组中观察到认知TUG与VFT之间存在显著相关性（G1组：Spearman相关系数rho = -0.535；p = 0.015；G2组：Spearman相关系数rho = -0.250；p = 0.288）。
糖尿病患者在功能活动能力和言语流畅性测试中的表现比非糖尿病老年人差，这表明糖尿病老年人有更高的跌倒风险。在物理治疗临床实践中纳入这些针对糖尿病患者的评估参数对于维持功能和预防跌倒至关重要。
