Table 2

Diagnostic accuracy of gait disorder and intrinsic-extrinsic classification for detecting non-cardiovascular mediated falls (n = 41)

Diagnostic Approach

Patients with Non-CV Causes*

Patients with CV Causes†

Sensitivity (%)

Specificity (%)

p-value

Fisher exact test

Gait Disorder +

34

1

97.1

83

<0.001‡

Gait Disorder -

1

5

Extrinsic Fall

10

1

28

83

0.9128‡

Intrinsic Fall

25

5

*Non-CV cause: non-cardiovascular neurally mediated cause. †CV causes: cardiovascular neurally mediated cause. Gait Disorder +: presence of gait disorder. Gait Disorder -: absence of gait disorder. ‡p-value of the associations with non-cardiovascular mediated falls for each diagnostic approach.

Note: Neurally mediated cardiovascular causes are the following: orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension, vasovagal syncope and carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

Montero-Odasso et al. BMC Geriatrics 2005 5:15   doi:10.1186/1471-2318-5-15