Dizziness, Physical Exercise, Falls, and Depression in Adults and the Elderly

Abstract

Introduction Dizziness is a symptom that can lead to falls, which, in turn, undermine onés independence and autonomy, leading to several comorbidities. The practice of physical exercise, however, can help prevent falls.

Objective The objective of this study is to confirm the association between physical exercise, dizziness, probability of falling, and depressive symptoms in a group of middle-aged adults and seniors.

Methods The authors evaluated subjects based on history, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and functional reach test.

Results The sample consisted of 90 individuals with a mean age of 69.3 ± 6.8 years. The authors found that 37.8% had been practicing exercise, 33.7% had depressive symptoms, and their probability of falling was above average in the functional reach test.

Conclusion The results of this study indicated an association between dizziness, exercise practice and depressive symptoms, indicating that physical activity is a beneficial factor for the aging population.

 

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Keywords

dizziness - falls - depression - exercise

Introduction

Population aging can be considered as the most evident and dynamic aspect of modern demography, influencing the economy and public health in a significant way. The world has experienced a modest increase in the population above 60 years of age over the last six decades – from 8% to 10%. However, this growth has been an unprecedented world phenomenon. During the 1950's, there were 204 million elderly in the world. In 1998, this number more than doubled, totaling 579 million; in 2011, the figure reached was 893 million.[1] Over the next four decades, experts expect this age group to grow to 22% of the world population, which would correspond to 2.4 billion of elderly by the middle of this century.[2]

In this sense, many elders will likely face health problems inherent to aging, as well as challenges in maintaining their independence. However, the elderly can stay healthy and active in society in an independent and sustainable manner,[3] and the work of professionals and researchers in the multidisciplinary health field that serve this group is fundamental in achieving this state. At the same time, it is essential that the government create and apply public policies that enable and sustain educational and awareness actions regarding people qualification and the fulfillment of the populationś basic needs.

As for the health of the elderly, changes in body balance (postural instability) have received much attention, as it is one of the symptoms that most affect their lives. Body balance is the result of a harmonious interaction among different systems in the human body: vestibular (inner ear – posterior labyrinth), visual, and somatic-sensorial (cutaneous, muscular, and articular receptors) systems. This interaction is accomplished through processes of the neural system, which organizes and executes a rapid response by means of the musculoskeletal system.[4]

The aging process is associated with a decrease in the ability to keep balance, especially in situations where responses of the balance keeping systems to unexpected disturbances during free moving and the avoidance of obstacles are necessary. Sensorial, motor, and adaptive balance components become vulnerable as degenerative, infectious, or damaging processes accumulate. Although small alterations in any of the systems that comprise balance keeping do not result in significant disturbances, the involvement of multiple components may lead to severe deficits in postural stability conservation.[5] [6]

The aging process may alter the dynamic posture keeping system. This condition is a contributing factor to falls among the elderly, albeit not the main cause.[7] Impairment of the vestibular system is also believed to be a factor that leads the elderly to lose balance, through the aging process of this systeḿs organs.[8]

Alterations to postural stability are also followed by dizziness. This can be defined as any sensation of change in the body balance and can be rotational (vertigo) or non-rotational (unbalance, oscillation, vacillation, etc.). Both types may or may not be caused by specific vestibular system disturbances.[9]

The presence of dizziness may cause falls, which are associated to the main cause of death in the elderly group. Some authors also associate dizziness to partial or full inability to perform social, professional, family activities, in addition to causing physical and psychological damage, such as loss of self-confidence, depression, deficit in concentration, and performance, thus negatively interfering in the quality of life.[10] [11] However, it is still difficult to know if psychological problems pre-exist or are a result of vestibular complications.[11]

Balance disturbances and anxiety disorders share central neural circuits involving monoaminergic components, this being the reason why anxiety is often associated with balance alterations. These neural circuits concentrate in a parabrachial nucleus network (vestibular system and visceral information processing convergence point), also involving avoidance, anxiety, and fear symptoms.[12] Physical insecurity triggered by dizziness and unbalance lead to psychological insecurity, irritability, loss of self-confidence, anxiety, depression or panic, a sense of being out of reality and depersonalization.[13]

Depression – which may be caused or made worse by body imbalance – is a common condition in seniors. Furthermore, it is associated to higher risk of morbidity and mortality, increase in health services usage, negligence in self-care, and higher risk of suicide.[14] The main symptoms of depression are depressed mood and loss of interest or lack of pleasure in almost all activities, being characterized as a psychiatric syndrome. In the elderly, its manifestation occurs in a heterogeneous form regarding both the presentation aspects of its etiology and its treatment.[15]

Studies relate the involvement in physical activities with a better general health condition and lesser occurrence of depression and falls in the elderly.[16] [17] Physical activity is capable of improving mental and clinical conditions of depressed elderly. This is because physical activity stimulates cognitive, memory, and concentration functions, in addition to raising self-esteem, improving quality of life,[18] and helping decrease scores indicative of anxiety and depression,[19] favoring daily activities and promoting functional independence.[20] Furthermore, the physically active elderly show improvement of dizziness and vertigo symptoms,[21] [22] [23] decreasing, as a result, the risk of falls and associated comorbidities.

Thus, the objective of this work is to verify the correlation between physical exercise, dizziness, probability of falls, and symptoms of depression in a group of middle-aged and elderly group.

 

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Methods

This is a transversal and observational study with approval from the institutioǹs Ethical Committee (record n° 216292011). The sample comprised adult and elderly individuals of both sexes who took part in university extension projects.

The inclusion factors for subjects were non-institutionalized elderly with no history of neurological or cognitive alterations, who voluntarily accepted to take part in the research and signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF).

Assessment procedures included a medical history prepared for this study; the abridged version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS); and Anterior Functional Reach Test.

The medical history assessment included questions on individual̀s socio-demographic and health (age, gender, presence of diseases, treatment used), as well as questions about their practice of physical exercises (frequency, time of practice, type of physical exercise).

As for assessing the results of the geriatric depression scale, each answer indicating depression scored one point. Scores below five points indicated lack of depressive symptoms; 6 to 10 points indicated mild/moderate depressive symptoms; and 11 to 15 points meant severe depressive symptoms.[24]

For the functional range test was initially placed a tape measure on the wall, parallel to the floor, at the height of the acromion of each individual. The following were instructed to position themselves parallel to the wall, without lean on to it, with the parallels and bare feet in a comfortable position. The upper limb was positioned with bent shoulders at 90°, extended elbows, wrists in a neutral, flat hand position. As a result, it was requested that incline forward as much as possible, hold for three seconds without taking the heels off the floor. Taking as the third metacarpal of the individual parameter was recorded in centimeters anterior displacement on the tape. Displacements smaller than 15.2 cm indicate the risk of falls four times higher compared to those who reached more than 25.4 cm, or is highly likely to falls. Measures between 15.2 and 25.4 cm has an average probability of falls (twice as likely to fall than those who reach values greater than 25.4cm). Values greater than 25.4 cm indicate low probability of falls.[25]

The authors analyzed the data using descriptive statistics through measures of central tendency (mean and median) and variability (standard deviation and inner quartile ranges), as well as absolute and relative distribution (n - %). The symmetric continuous distribution was evaluated by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

For the bivariate analysis between qualitative variables, the authors used the Pearson Qui-square test (χ²) and continuity correction, which compares between observed (real) and expected frequencies. In contingency tables in which at least 25% of cell (quads) values presented expected frequency below five, they used Fisheŕs exact test. For continuous variables, when comparing two independent groups, the applied test was Student́s t-test or, its non-parametric equivalent, the Mann Whitney test. Multivariate analysis was accomplished through non-conditional Binary Logistic Regression, by employing regressive procedures to test the hypotheses of association between cognitive decline and co-variables defined by the bivariate analysis (p ≤ 0.250), by obtaining the adjusted Odds Ratio (OR). Data received statistical treatment via SPSS 17.0 software (Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows), adopting a significance level (α) of 5% for the decision-making criteria.

 

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Results

The sample comprised of 90 individuals, aged 69.3 ( ± 6.8) in average, with minimum age of 59 years and maximum age of 84 years. The majority of investigated individuals was in the age group between 65 and 74 years (38.9%). The proportion of women was slightly higher (51.1%). Physical exercise was practiced by 37.8% of the individuals ([Table 1]).

Table 1 Absolute and relative distribution of the sample according to gender, age group, physical exercise, and dizziness; measures of central tendency and variability for age

Variables	Distribution
	Absolute (n)	Relative (%)
Gender[*]
Male	44	48.9
Female	46	51.1
Age (years)
Average ± standard deviation	69.3 ± 6.8
Minimum – maximum	59–84
Age group (years)[*]
From 59 to 64	30	33.3
From 65 to 74	35	38.9
75 years or more	25	27.8
Practice of physical exercise[*] ¥ NR = 5 (2.5%)
No	56	62.2
Yes	34	37.8
Time of physical exercise practice[*]
Less than 1 year	5	14.7
Between 1 and 3 years	10	29.4
Between 4 and 6 years	8	23.5
Between 7 and 10 years	5	14.7
More than 10 years	6	17.6
Dizziness[*]
No	54	60.0
Yes	36	40.0

^* Results presented as n (%), with percentage obtained as based on total valid cases; ¥: NR = 5 (2.5%).

The majority of individuals interviewed (65.8%) did not show depressive symptoms. Regarding the Anterior Functional Reach test, the majority of evaluated individuals indeed showed low probability of fall occurrence, with an average score of 28.2 cm (SD = 9.2) points, varying from 0 to 44.5 cm ([Table 2]).

Table 2 Absolute and relative distribution of the sample for GDS scores and Anterior Functional Reach Test; measures of central tendency and variability for balance

Variables	Distribution
	Absolute (n)	Relative (%)
GDS[*] ₡ NR = 11 (12.2%)
Absence of depression symptoms	52	65.8
Light to moderate symptoms	24	30.4
Serious symptoms	3	3.3
Anterior Functional Reach Test (dislocation in cm)
Average ± standard deviation	28.2 ± 9.2
Minimum – maximum	0.0–44.5
Anterior Functional Reach Test – probability of falls[*] ₳ NR = 8 (8.8%)
High	4	4.9
Medium	20	24.4
Low	58	70.7

^* Results presented as n (%), with percentage obtained as based on total valid cases, ₡: NR = 11 (12.2%); ₳: NR = 8 (8.8%).

In the analyses done on dizziness complaints, the authors verified a significant association with age group (p < 0.05), with the elderly aged 75 years or more presenting a higher probability of feeling dizziness, whereas the group aged between 65 and 74 years, this association was not verified ([Table 3]).

Table 3 Absolute and relative distribution of the sample per gender, age group, physical activity; measures of central tendency and variability of age and time of physical activity with and without dizziness

Variables	Dizziness		p (value)
	No (n = 54)	Yes (n = 36)
Gender[*]			0.182 ¶
Male	30 (55.6)	14 (38.9)
Female	24 (44.4)	22 (61.1)
Age (years)			0.249 §
Average ± standard deviation	68.6 ± 6.7	70.3 ± 6.9
Minimum – maximum	59–84	60–83
Age group (years)[*]			0.028 ɸ*
From 59 to 64	18 (33.3)	12 (33.3)
From 65 to 74	26 (48.1)	9 (25.0)
75 years or more	10 (18.5)	15 (41.7)
Physical exercise practice			0.069¶
No	29 (53.7)	27 (75.0)
Yes	25 (46.3)	9 (25.0)
GDS[*] ₡
Absence of depressive symptoms	39 (81.3)	13 (41.9)
Light to moderate symptoms	8 (16.7)	16 (51.6)	0.001£**
Serious symptoms	1 (2.1)	2 (6.5)
Anterior Functional Reach Test (dislocation in cm)
Average ± standard deviation	30.1 ± 10.6	25.3 ± 5.4	0.008§ **
Minimum – maximum	0.0–44.5	16.0–40.0
Anterior Functional Reach Test (probability of falls)[*]
High	4 (8.0)	0 (0,0)
Medium	5 (10.0)	15 (46.9)	<0.001£ **
Low	41 (82.0)	17 (53.1)

^* Percentages obtained as based on total of each dizziness category; ¶: Pearson Chi-square Test with continuity correction; §: t-Student test for independent groups; ɸ: Pearson Chi-square Test; £: Fisher's Exact Test through Monte Carlo simulation; *Statistically significant test at 5%; **Statistically significant test at 1%.

Moreover, it has been observed statistically significant association between the occurrence of dizziness and the presence of light/moderate depressive symptoms (p < 0.01), as well as between the occurrence of dizziness and the average probability of falls (p < 0.001).

In terms of the association between the occurrence of dizziness and the results of the Anterior Functional Reach test, the average in centimeters for the anterior reach (25.3 ± 5.4) of elderly with dizziness showed to be significantly less when compared with the average of the group without dizziness complaints (30.1 ± 10.6) (p < 0.01).

When comparing the occurrence of dizziness with gender, age, practice of physical exercise, and time of practice, we identified an independent relation, evidencing that dizziness is unrelated to any of these factors in the studied group.

In the group of individuals that did not practice physical exercise, there was an association between the occurrence of dizziness and light/moderate depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). However, in the same analysis done with the group that practiced some physical activity, the association between dizziness and depressive symptoms was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) ([Table 4]).

Table 4 Absolute and relative distribution of the classification of depressive symptoms in relation to dizziness according to the practice of physical exercise in the studied sample

Depressive symptoms	Physical exercise
	No (n = 55)		Yes (n = 24)
	Dizziness
	No (n = 26)	Yes (n = 29)	No (n = 19)	Yes (n = 5)
Absent	22 (75.9)	9 (34.6)	17 (89.5)	4 (80.0)
Light/moderate	6 (20.7)	16 (61.5)	2 (10.5)	0 (0.0)
Serious	1 (3.4)	1 (3.8)	0 (0.0)	1 (20.0)
p (value)§	0.002**		0.243

£: Fisher's Exact Test;

**Statistically significant test at 1%.

Another evaluation confirms the importance of physical exercise. Keeping the remaining variation factors not considered in the analysis (gender, age) constant, the group that practices physical exercise was less prone to dizziness and depressive symptoms ([Table 4]).

We looked for and identified the variables that could respond in a more trustworthy form to the occurrence of dizziness. We performed the logistic regression analysis with an adjustment to minimize the number of explanatory variables employed and maximize model precision, through the Backward Model, to maximize the explanatory power of the study factor.

Through a model defined as saturated, we listed all variables with minimum significance level below 0.25 through bivariate analysis ([Table 3]) as possible preceding factors for the presence of dizziness. They are the following: gender, age, age group, physical activity, GDS score, dislocation in the Anterior Functional Reach test, and balance. In this model, the variables for gender and age pointed out an independent relation to the occurrence of dizziness.

According to the adjusted logistic regression model, the following were significant predictive factors for the occurrence of dizziness: non-practice of physical exercise, classifications of light/moderate depressive symptoms, and dislocation in the Anterior Functional Reach test.

Results described in [Table 5] show that the elderly who do not practice physical exercise have 2.2 times higher risk of presenting dizziness than the group that practices some physical exercise. In relation to depressive symptoms, the significant risk of presenting dizziness occurred in the light/moderate degree, indicating that the elderly included in this classification had 4.5 times more chance of presenting dizziness than the group with absence of depressive symptoms.

Table 5 Estimation of parameters obtained from the adjusted Logistic Regression model (age) for the occurrence of dizziness, according to practice of physical exercise, depressive symptoms, and Anterior Functional Reach Test

Co-variables	Total sample (n = 79)	Occurrence of dizziness		OR	IC95% OR£	p
		n	%
Practice of physical exercise
No	56 (62.2)	27	48.2	2.205	1.122–6.447	0.014
Yes	34 (37.8)	9	26.5	1.000	- - -	- - -
Depressive symptoms[*]
Absence of depression	52 (65.8)	13	41.9	1.000	- - -
Light to moderate	24 (30.4)	16	51.6	4.527	1.319–15.530	0.016
Serious	3 (3.8)	2	6.5	0.355	0.023–17.541	0.874
Depressive symptoms[*]
Absence of depression	52 (65.8)	13	41.9	1.000	- - -
Presence of depression	27 (34.1)	18	66.7	2.118	1.234–4.657	0.038
Anterior Functional Reach Test[*] - Probability of Falls
High	4 (4.9)	0	0.0	- - -	- - -
Medium	20 (24.4)	15	75.0	4.075	1.127–14.740	0.032
Low	58 (70.7)	17	29.3	1.000	- - -

^* Model parameters: Pseudo-R² = 0.432; “-2 log Likelihood = 80.208; Hosmer and Lemeshow (p = 0.998); Pearson's Chi-square (χ² = 9272; p = 0.099); Nagelkerke (R²: 0.460); Correct classification: 74.4% (Dizziness: no = 78.7%; yes = 67.7%).

As the number of elderly with severe depressive symptoms was very low, the light/moderate and serious groups were merged, by classifying the answer for symptoms as presence or absence. Over this new variable, we once more calculated the risk of presence of depressive symptoms associated to dizziness, estimated at 2.1 times that of the group with absence of this symptom.

The results verified that the group with medium probability of falls as the result for the Anterior Functional Reach test had 4.0 times more chances of occurrence of dizziness than the group with low probability of falls.

When age was kept constant, results indicated that the non-practice of physical exercise, the presence of depressive symptoms, and the result of the Anterior Functional Reach test (indicating medium probability of falls) are factors associated to the occurrence of dizziness in the investigated sample.

 

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Discussion

In the sample of this study, more than 60% of the individuals affirmed to not practice physical exercise, confirming other similar studies. The Ministry of Health of Brazil[26] made a survey, and verified that 53.7% of elderly men and 58.3% of elderly women were inactive. Similar results were found in other study concerning the level of physical activity and its relationship with the environment (specifically, safety) with 1,656 elderly from Florianópolis.[27] By using similar parameters, Pucci, Reis, Rech and Hallal[28] classified the majority of the individuals of their study as insufficiently active in leisure or walking activities. In this study, 1,461 adults and elderly between 18 and 65 years of age were evaluated.

Current studies highlight the prevalence of dizziness reports among the elderly population.[29] [30] [31] [32] Approximately one in every five seniors currently presents dizziness or imbalance.[29] In our research, 40% of the elderly reported sensation of dizziness. This finding is very similar to other studies done in Brazil, in which the authors verified that the prevalence of dizziness in the elderly is substantial, having observed dizziness complaints from 45% of 391 elderly over 65 years of age interviewed.[33]

Another study interviewed 516 elderly people, and confirmed self-reported dizziness in 42% of them.[31] Thus, dizziness is a common problem for the elderly population,[11] [34] [35] as these individuals show a decrease in visual acuity during aging, and loss of balance due to the reduction of ciliated cells and vestibular neurons. This results in loss of functions from two important components responsible for keeping balance.[36] Furthermore, with age, the central nervous system capabilities become impaired, affecting the processing of vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive signals responsible for maintenance of body balance. Age also reduces capacity of modifications of the adaptive reflexes, may be responsible for the occurrence of vertigo and/or dizziness in the geriatric population.[35]

The data from the studied sample evidenced that 33.7% of the elderly presented depressive symptoms. This prevalence is higher than that described by other authors,[37] who report prevalence of 26.7% of depressive symptoms in a sample of elderly people residing in an urban zone. In turn, study reported depressive symptoms in 31% of the elderly evaluated, by also using the GDS scale in active elderly who were part of a conviviality group, i.e., a similar sample to the one evaluated in this study. Additionally, the cited authors verified that 4% of the evaluated elderly presented severe depressive symptoms, which was also similar to the obtained data.[38]

Regarding Anterior Functional Reach results, the average obtained was 28.2 ± 9.2cm. Hence, the biggest part of individuals evaluated presented low probability of falls. Results were higher than those observed by previous studies,[39] [40] and lower than those obtained by another study.[41] Values found were similar to those observed in Brazil,[42] which also evaluated a sample of adult and elderly people. The sample of elderly people in the age group between 70 and 87 years of age presented functional reach values between 29.75 (men) and 27.13 (women). Variations in the results of these studies can be explained through different factors, such as fall history, freight, strength, and flexibility of upper and lower limbs.[42]

This research verified a stronger presence of dizziness in the age group above 75 years (41.7%), a significant association (p = 0.028) when compared with remaining age groups. Such a finding is similar to that of the research with 1,273 elderly between 60 and 96 years of age, which verified reports of dizziness in 23.6% of all elderly evaluated. In this study, 17.8% of them were under 80 and 31% were over 80 years old.[30] Another longitudinal research with 620 elderly people verified that dizziness was a factor that depended on age, with prevalence of 27% in the elderly under 70, and over 54% in the group with 90 years of age or more. Among the elderly that mentioned dizziness, 68.2% perceived this symptom daily or weekly.[43] The bigger prevalence of dizziness in the age group above 75 years of age could be due to the generalized deterioration of health in older people[44] or multifactor conditions, both medical and functional.[43]

It is worth mentioning that the presence of dizziness is directly related to the presence of falls in the elderly population;[30] both conditions are considered geriatric syndromes that occur concomitantly to other harms to multiple systems of the body.[5] This worsens with age. The elderly who suffer falls can have fractures as a consequence, which might require longer periods in bed. Such condition is responsible for 70% of deaths resulting from accidents in individuals over 75 years in age.[45]

Further to this, there was no significant difference when comparing the presence of dizziness complaints among the elderly who practiced physical exercise whith those who did not. These data were different from the expectations of the authors and the findings of Ruwer et al,[35] because, according to these authors, the complaint of dizziness is less prevalent in the elderly that practice physical exercise. Nevertheless, with the adjusted logistic regression, it is possible to verify that the individuals who do not practice physical exercise are 2.2 times more likely of feeling dizzy than physically active individuals are. This result confirms studies that compared elderly people with and without dizziness and observed that those without complaints of dizziness were engaged in physical activity.[46] These authors also verified that there was a relation between dizziness and depression, which attest to the data from our study. The research verified a significant association between light to moderate depressive symptoms and 4.5-fold increase in the risk of feeling dizziness.

Regarding the Anterior Functional Reach Test, this research verified a significant association between the probability of falls and reports of dizziness. The elderly with medium probability of falling are four times more likely to feel dizziness than the elderly with low probability of falls, as described in another study.[47]

The studies indicate that active elderly people are less prone to depression than the sedentary elderly.[19] [48] [49] Physical exercises help to reduce depression, aside from helping in its prevention. Physical activity relates to less frequent mood disorders and may even help release some neurotransmitters, such as noradrenalin and serotonin.[50] [51]

Studies indicate that elderly people who practice regular physical activity mention less depressive symptoms than non-active or sedentary elderly people. Analysis of social skills, social support, life quality and depression of elderly people in an extension project, family contexts and asylums indicated that the depressive symptom was present in 0% of practicing elderly people compare to 30% of the elderly who did not participate in the project. In the asylum, in turn, this percentage increased 40%.[52] In other study about the intensity and prevalence of depressive symptoms in elderly women participating in an extension project, it was verified an absence of depressive symptoms in 80.6% of the sample.[53] Another study evaluated the effect of a program of aerobic physical exercise in the intensity of the ventilator threshold over depression and anxiety and life quality of healthy elderly people divided into a control and a experimental group. The elderly in the experimental group had a reduction in the scores of depression and anxiety and an increase in life quality, while in the control group no changes were observed.[51]

In the research on the freight of falling and its relation with balance and mobility tests, there was a moderate correlation.[40] Authors state that balance and mobility enable the stability necessary to maintain a standing position, for instance. Therefore, maintaining adequate levels of such capabilities reduces the risk of falls, which are directly related to level of physical activity. The American College of Sports Medicine[54] mentions that the level of physical activity is inversely related to the number of limitations in the elderly.

Brazilian authors analyzed the relation between health conditions, incidence of falls, and level of physical activity in 256 elderly people. Results indicated an association between the level of physical activity and the incidence of falls and health conditions. In other words, the more frequent the practice of physical activity the less the occurrence of falls. Muscular weakness, reduction in articular mobility, degraded synergy, programming mechanisms, and motor control difficulties are the variables present in low levels of physical activity, predisposing to falls in the elderly.[55]

 

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Conclusion

The results of this study indicated the existence of an association between the practice of physical exercise, dizziness, probability of falls, and depressive symptoms in a group of non-institutionalized middle aged adults and elderly people, evidencing that physical activity is a beneficial factor for the aging population.

 

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