Skip to main content
. 2010 Sep 9;341:c4467. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c4467

Table 5.

 Summary of results from studies of standing balance

Study name and reference/s* Total No (No of deaths) Category comparison/value of unit change Effect estimate (95% CI) Adjustments
Health ABC study, Cesari et al 200914 3024 (653) Balance <53 seconds v ≥53 seconds (note: max score 90 seconds) Hazard ratio 1.35 (1.12 to 1.62) Age, sex, race, study site, smoking, BMI, MMSE score, physical activity, comorbidities, alcohol consumption, education
ilSIRENTE, Cesari et al 200813 335 (71) Per 1 SD increase in standing balance score—from 0 (unable) to 4 (hold tandem stand for 10 seconds) Hazard ratio 0.77 (0.60 to 1.00) Age, sex, BMI, cognitive performance, No of clinical conditions, albumin, total cholesterol
EPESE, Guralnik et al 199443 5264 (1741) 1) Unable to hold side by side stand v able to hold tandem stand for 10 seconds; 2) Able to hold side by side stand for 10 seconds but unable to hold semi-tandem stand for 10 seconds v able to hold tandem stand for 10 seconds 1) Hazard ratio 3.54 (3.04 to 4.13); 2) 1.78 (1.51 to 2.09) Age, sex, height, weight
EPIDOS study, Rolland et al 200626 7092 (722) Lowest (0-20 seconds) v highest third (27-30 seconds) Hazard ratio 1.57 (1.32 to 1.87) Age, sex, body mass index
Study of Fukuoka Prefecture residents, Takata et al 200732 551 (72) Per 1 unit change in balance time Hazard ratio 0.99 (0.97 to 1.01) Sex, smoking, BMI, systolic blood pressure, marital status, total cholesterol, glucose, complications from prevalent disease

BMI=body mass index; MMSE=mini-mental state examination.

*See web table A for further details of studies.