Sarah Holmes (United Kingdom)
University College London Centre for Neuromuscular DiseasesAuthor Of 1 Presentation
SELF-REPORTED POSTURAL SYMPTOMS PREDICT VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION AND FALLS IN MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE PATIENTS WITH MULTI-SENSORY IMPAIRMENT
- Nehzat Koohi (United Kingdom)
Abstract
Background and Aims:
Mitochondrial diseases (MD) are a genetically heterogenous group of conditions. Large phenotypic variations are seen in people with MD, with presentations ranging from single organ involvement to multisystem disorders, which commonly give rise to multi-sensory impairment including ataxia, neuropathy, myopathy and vestibular dysfunction. We investigated the relative contributions of sensory impairment to postural control in patients with MD as a human model of multi-sensory dysfunction and explore how these impairments relate to falls risk.
Methods:
We recorded clinical data of 130 patients with a confirmed genetic and/or clinicopathological diagnosis of MD, who attended an out-patient MD clinic at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. We specifically recorded the presence of ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction, in addition to symptoms of dizziness and imbalance.
Results:
Of the patients who presented with ataxia, 52% reported that they had experienced falls. Similarly, 52% of patients with confirmed vestibular dysfunction reported falls, versus 38% with neuropathy and 30% with myopathy. Eighty percent of MD patients with confirmed vestibular dysfunction reported imbalance, 56% reported dizziness and 52% reported falls.
Conclusions:
Whilst ataxia is an established cause of falls, and a recognised feature of MD, but dizziness symptoms and vestibular dysfunction may be more prevalent than is currently reported. Patients with objective evidence of vestibular dysfunction were at greater risk of imbalance, dizziness, and falls. Dizziness and imbalance are useful self-reported indicators of vestibular dysfunction in patients with multisensory impairment, and highly predictive of falls.