Acromegaly may impair balance and increase fall risk. We aimed to evaluate postural stability, fall risk, and vestibulo-ocular reflex function in patients with acromegaly and to assess the effects of a balance-oriented exercise program.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists and vestibular specialists working with acromegaly patients should be alert to increased fall risk and compromised vestibulo-ocular reflex function; balance-based exercise may be a useful adjunct referral recommendation.
Vestibular dysfunction and fall risk in acromegaly represent an under-recognized clinical intersection between endocrinology and audiology/vestibular medicine, broadening the case for interdisciplinary care.
- 01Acromegaly (excess growth hormone disorder) is associated with impaired postural stability and increased fall risk.
- 02Vestibulo-ocular reflex (the eye-movement reflex linked to balance) was evaluated and found to be affected.
- 03Balance-based exercise interventions were assessed for their ability to reduce fall risk in this population.
- 04Findings highlight an underappreciated vestibular burden in patients with acromegaly.
- 05Interdisciplinary care involving vestibular specialists may benefit acromegaly patients.
Patients with acromegaly have impaired postural stability and elevated fall risk.
studysupportedBalance-based exercise interventions ameliorate postural instability in acromegaly patients.
studypartially supportedVestibulo-ocular reflex function is altered in acromegaly.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42592857
- DOI
- 10.1093/ejendo/lvag154.
- Journal
- European Journal of Endocrinology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Patients diagnosed with acromegaly
- Intervention
- Balance-based exercise intervention
- Comparator
- Baseline or non-exercising acromegaly patients (implied)
Primary outcomes
Postural stability measures; Fall risk assessment; Vestibulo-ocular reflex function