Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy

Aim: Older adults often face significant issues related to functionality, balance, and fall risk. This study aimed to investigate balance, kinesiophobia, and mobility in older adults exposed to polypharmacy.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 75 individuals aged 65 y...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pınar Müge Altınkaya, Sema Erden Ertürk, Yasemin Salkın, Aysun Kazak Saltı
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Duzce University 2025-08-01
Series:Düzce Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4369034
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849224159056363520
author Pınar Müge Altınkaya
Sema Erden Ertürk
Yasemin Salkın
Aysun Kazak Saltı
author_facet Pınar Müge Altınkaya
Sema Erden Ertürk
Yasemin Salkın
Aysun Kazak Saltı
author_sort Pınar Müge Altınkaya
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Older adults often face significant issues related to functionality, balance, and fall risk. This study aimed to investigate balance, kinesiophobia, and mobility in older adults exposed to polypharmacy.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 75 individuals aged 65 years and over who were exposed to polypharmacy and presented to a university hospital between November 2023 and March 2024, and with a standardized mini-mental test (SMMT) score of 25 and above. Data were collected using the patient introduction and medication use questionnaire, the Berg balance scale (BBS), the Tampa kinesiophobia scale (TKS), and the timed up and go (TUG) test.Results: Individuals who completed the TUG test within 0-1414 seconds exhibited higher BBS scores when compared to those who completed the test in more than 14 seconds (p=0.001), while the TKS scores were lower (p=0.001). Furthermore, it was observed that individuals with a history of falls had higher TKS (p=0.001) and TUG test (p=0.001) scores than those without a history of falls. Additionally, the number of chronic diseases showed a negative correlation with BBS scores (rs=-0.319, p=0.005), while exhibiting a positive correlation with TKS scores (rs=0.263, p=0.023) and TUG test (rs=0.316, p=0.006) durations.Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that polypharmacy has a deleterious effect on balance and mobility in older adults. It is imperative to evaluate the suitability of the prescribed medications and to take into account the patient's current medications prior to the initiation of new medications.
format Article
id doaj-art-a28e9aaf7e84440fa7849b6a6e87ed66
institution Kabale University
issn 1307-671X
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Duzce University
record_format Article
series Düzce Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-a28e9aaf7e84440fa7849b6a6e87ed662025-08-25T14:50:49ZengDuzce UniversityDüzce Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi1307-671X2025-08-0127212312910.18678/dtfd.158589697Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to PolypharmacyPınar Müge Altınkaya0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3683-2146Sema Erden Ertürk1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1988-8674Yasemin Salkın2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7674-8934Aysun Kazak Saltı3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7151-1391MERSİN ÜNİVERSİTESİMERSİN ÜNİVERSİTESİMERSİN ÜNİVERSİTESİMERSİN ÜNİVERSİTESİAim: Older adults often face significant issues related to functionality, balance, and fall risk. This study aimed to investigate balance, kinesiophobia, and mobility in older adults exposed to polypharmacy.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 75 individuals aged 65 years and over who were exposed to polypharmacy and presented to a university hospital between November 2023 and March 2024, and with a standardized mini-mental test (SMMT) score of 25 and above. Data were collected using the patient introduction and medication use questionnaire, the Berg balance scale (BBS), the Tampa kinesiophobia scale (TKS), and the timed up and go (TUG) test.Results: Individuals who completed the TUG test within 0-1414 seconds exhibited higher BBS scores when compared to those who completed the test in more than 14 seconds (p=0.001), while the TKS scores were lower (p=0.001). Furthermore, it was observed that individuals with a history of falls had higher TKS (p=0.001) and TUG test (p=0.001) scores than those without a history of falls. Additionally, the number of chronic diseases showed a negative correlation with BBS scores (rs=-0.319, p=0.005), while exhibiting a positive correlation with TKS scores (rs=0.263, p=0.023) and TUG test (rs=0.316, p=0.006) durations.Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that polypharmacy has a deleterious effect on balance and mobility in older adults. It is imperative to evaluate the suitability of the prescribed medications and to take into account the patient's current medications prior to the initiation of new medications.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4369034dengekinezyofobimobiliteyaşlı bireylerpolifarmasibalancekinesiophobiamobilityolder adultspolypharmacy
spellingShingle Pınar Müge Altınkaya
Sema Erden Ertürk
Yasemin Salkın
Aysun Kazak Saltı
Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy
Düzce Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
denge
kinezyofobi
mobilite
yaşlı bireyler
polifarmasi
balance
kinesiophobia
mobility
older adults
polypharmacy
title Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy
title_full Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy
title_fullStr Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy
title_short Investigation of Balance, Kinesiophobia, and Mobility in Older Adults Exposed to Polypharmacy
title_sort investigation of balance kinesiophobia and mobility in older adults exposed to polypharmacy
topic denge
kinezyofobi
mobilite
yaşlı bireyler
polifarmasi
balance
kinesiophobia
mobility
older adults
polypharmacy
url https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4369034
work_keys_str_mv AT pınarmugealtınkaya investigationofbalancekinesiophobiaandmobilityinolderadultsexposedtopolypharmacy
AT semaerdenerturk investigationofbalancekinesiophobiaandmobilityinolderadultsexposedtopolypharmacy
AT yaseminsalkın investigationofbalancekinesiophobiaandmobilityinolderadultsexposedtopolypharmacy
AT aysunkazaksaltı investigationofbalancekinesiophobiaandmobilityinolderadultsexposedtopolypharmacy