Characteristics of balance disorders in patients with white matter hyperintensities

Abstract

Objective To explore the features of balance disorders in patients with white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Methods The clinical data of 82 patients with WMH from September 2018 to December 2018 were collected. Fazekas scale was used to evaluate the level of WMH. Berg Balance Scale (BBS)and visual⁃feedback balance test⁃training monitor were used to assessed the performance of balance. Results Fazekas classification periventricular WMH (PWMH) and deep WMH (DWMH) had negative correlation with BBS total score(rs=⁃0.322, P=0.027; rs=⁃0.414, P=0.004) and dynamic balance function scores (rs =⁃0.368, P=0.011; rs =⁃0.440, P=0.002). About the parameters of the balance monitor, the center of gravity sway circumference(rs=0.239, P=0.030)and the center of gravity sway speed(rs=0.240, P =0.030) were only positively correlated with the PWMH, center of gravity sway area ( rs =0.345, P = 0.001; rs=0.340, P=0.002),X⁃axis standard deviation(rs=0.302, P=0.006; rs=0.260, P=0.018),Y⁃axis standard deviation (rs =0.248, P=0.025; rs =0.253, P=0.022) were positively correlated with DWMH and PWMH; PWMH (rs=⁃0.258, P=0.019) and DWMH (rs=0.224， P=0.043) were negatively correlated with stabilitylimit. BBS total score(rs=0.572, P=0.000)and functionalreachtest(FRT; rs=0.560, P=0.000) were positively correlated with stability limit. Conclusions PWMH may be one of thefactors influencing the balance disorder in patients with WMH. The static stability, dynamic balance function, stability limit and posture stability of the patients with severe WMH are seriously degraded,there is a high risk of falling. FRT test can be used as a simple fast emergency or bedside evaluation of patients' active posture control and fall risk.

Keywords

• White matter; Magnetic resonance imaging; Postural balance; Statistics
• nonparametric