Impaired Balance and Gait Characteristics in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

• Published in: Heart, lung & circulation lung & circulation, 2022-06, Vol.31 (6), p.832-840
• Main Authors: Ozcan, Emine Burcu, Saglam, Melda, Vardar-Yagli, Naciye, Calik-Kutukcu, Ebru, Inal-Ince, Deniz, Altinsoy, Meltem, Kaya, Ergun Baris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Balance; Chronic heart failure; Gait parameters
• ISSN: 1443-9506; 1444-2892
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2021.10.015

Heart failure affects most systems of the body and causes various problems in patients. Balance deficits and gait deviations can be a result of these effects. There is little information in the literature about balance and gait parameters in chronic heart failure (CHF). This study aimed to investigate balance abnormalities together with gait deficits for possible associations in patients with CHF and compare them to healthy controls. Twenty-two (22) patients with CHF (59±2.5 years) and 22 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (59.4±6.8 years) participated in the study. This study is a cross-sectional/comparison study. Balance was evaluated using the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) balance battery, which includes the timed up-and-go test (TUG) and dual-task TUG. Gait analysis was performed using a Biodex Gait Trainer. Peripheral muscle strength (quadriceps muscle and handgrip strength) was assessed using a hand dynamometer and exercise capacity using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). The CHF patients had significantly lower Mini-BESTest total, reactive postural control, and gait stability scores, significantly longer TUG/dual-task TUG time, and lower ABC score compared to the healthy control group (p