Prospective cohort study of the effects of motor cognitive risk syndrome on fractures after falls

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk factors of elderly, sports cognitive risk syndrome falling, repeated falls and fractures after falls. Methods A total of 3 552 people were enrolled in the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from April 2015 to April 2016. The demographics of each selected individual were recorded. The selected individuals were assessed by MMSE for the presence of Subjective Cognitive Complaint (SCC), and the pace was used to assess whether there was slow walking and whether there was MCR (SCC + slow walking). All individuals were divided into MCR group and non-MCR group according to the evaluation results. The non-MCR group was subdivided into SCC subgroup, slow speed walking subgroup and healthy subgroup. Baseline variables were compared between the two groups, and demographics between subgroups, subgroups, and MCR groups were compared. Follow-up was followed every 4 months for a total of 2 years. The number of people who fell during the follow-up period, repeated falls, and fractures were recorded. With all demographics and SCC, walking at a slower pace, MCR was an independent variable, with a fall during follow-up, repeated falls and post-fall fractures as dependent variables, and a COX proportional hazard regression model of independent and dependent variables. Results The proportions of the MCR group in higher education, depression, the use of crutches were 10.2% (36/352), 22.4% (79/352), 44.9% (158/352), the BMI, number of medications in the MCR group were (27.0 ± 4.3) kg/m2, (6.8±3.2), the proportions of non-MCR group in higher education, depression, using crutches ratio were 22.9% (732/3 200), 12.8% (409/3 200), 22.8% (729 /3 200), the BMI, number of medications of non-MCR group were (24.8 ± 3.8) kg/m2, (5.2 ± 3.1), the two groups showed statistical significant difference(χ2 values were 29.93, 3.45, 24.98, t values were 12.34, 82.71, P<0.05). The proportions of higher education, depression and crutches were 18.9% (289/1531), 13.2% (202 /1531) and 22.5% (344/1531) in SCC subgroup. The difference between MCR group and SCC subgroup was statistically significant (χ2 values were 14.99, 19.28, 73.56, P<0.05). The higher education level of the slow walking group was 16.6% (34/205), which was significantly different from that of the MCR group (χ2 value was 4.77, P<0.05). The proportions of higher education level, arthritis, depression and crutches in the healthy subgroup were 27.9% (409/1 464), 12.9 (190/1 464), 11.2% (164/1 464) and 19.7% (288/1 464), while that in the SCC subgroup were 18.9% (289/1 531), 16.2 (248/1 531), 13.2% (202/1 531) and 22.5% (344/1 531), and that in the slow walking subgroup were 16.6% (34/205), 21.5% (44/205), 20.9 (43/205) and 47.3% (97/205). There were significant differences among the three subgroups (χ2 values were 13.08-78.28, P<0.05). BMI and number of drugs in healthy subgroups were (23.4±4.4) kg/m2 and (4.7±2.8) , SCC group was (25.2±4.3) kg/m2 and (5.1±2.9) kinds, and slow walking subgroup were (25.1±3.8) kg/m2 and (6.7±3.1) kinds. The differences among the three subgroups were statistically significant (t values were 2.68,7.21, P<0.05). The risks of falling, repeated falling and fracture after falling in MCR patients were 1.22, 1.47 and 2.54 (P<0.05). Conclusions Age, MCR is a high risk factor for falls in the elderly, repeated falls and fractures after falls. In clinical care, MCR needs to be evaluated and attention should be payed to the elderly. Key words: Cognitive impairment; Fall; Post-fall fracture; Cohort study; Elderly