Motl Robert W, Chaparro Gioella, Hernandez Manuel E, Balto Julia M, Sandroff Brian M
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2018 Jul/Sep;41(3):155-160. doi: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000115.
There is a growing prevalence of older persons living with multiple sclerosis (MS), and this cohort likely undergoes changes in physical function associated with MS and its progression as well as those associated with normal aging. This cross-sectional study examined physical function in a community-dwelling sample of older adults with MS compared with matched controls using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
The sample (N = 40) included 20 older adults with MS and 20 older adults without MS who were matched on sex and age. All participants completed the SPPB.
Statistically significant differences were observed between groups for the overall SPPB score (P = .013; d = 0.45) and the balance (P = .002; d = 0.46) and gait speed (P = .009; d = 0.30) component scores. The difference between groups in the lower extremity strength component approached significance (P = .056; d = 0.34). Of note, only 2 older adults without MS had SPPB scores below 10 (ie, 10%), whereas 8 older adults with MS had SPPB scores below 10 (ie, 40%); this represented a statistically significant difference in future risk for disability (P = .028).
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: We provide preliminary evidence for reduced physical function based on the SPPB as a valid, objective measure of lower extremity functional performance among older adults with MS.
患有多发性硬化症（MS）的老年人患病率日益上升，这一群体可能会经历与MS及其进展相关的身体功能变化，以及与正常衰老相关的身体功能变化。本横断面研究使用简短身体功能测试电池（SPPB），对社区居住的老年MS患者样本与匹配的对照组的身体功能进行了检查。
样本（N = 40）包括20名患有MS的老年人和20名未患MS的老年人，他们在性别和年龄上相匹配。所有参与者都完成了SPPB测试。
在总体SPPB评分（P = .013；d = 0.45）、平衡能力（P = .002；d = 0.46）和步速（P = .009；d = 0.30）分量评分方面，两组之间观察到具有统计学意义的差异。两组在下肢力量分量评分上的差异接近显著水平（P = .056；d = 0.34）。值得注意的是，只有2名未患MS的老年人SPPB评分低于10（即10%），而8名患有MS的老年人SPPB评分低于10（即40%）；这在未来残疾风险方面代表了具有统计学意义的差异（P = .028）。
讨论/结论：我们提供了初步证据，表明基于SPPB的身体功能下降是老年MS患者下肢功能表现的一种有效、客观的测量方法。
