Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34019991›Full record

ArticleJournal of vascular surgery2021

Revascularization for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis improves balance and mobility.

Vicki L Gray, Sarasijhaa K Desikan, Amir A Khan, Dawn Barth, Siddhartha Sikdar, John D Sorkin, Brajesh K Lal

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of vascular surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 36% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A cardiovascular-motor axis framework for perfusion-mediated motor impairment.International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Vicki L GrayDepartment of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, Md.
Sarasijhaa K DesikanDepartment of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Vascular Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Md.
Amir A KhanDepartment of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Dawn BarthDepartment of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Vascular Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Md.
Siddhartha SikdarDepartment of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
John D SorkinGeriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Md; Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
Brajesh K LalDepartment of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Vascular Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Md. Electronic address: blal@som.umaryland.edu.
University of Maryland, Baltimore · USGeorge Mason University · USGeriatric Research Education and Clinical Center · USVeterans Health Administration · US

Funding

University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (UM-OAIC)P30AG028747 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI Stephen L. Seliger · 2006 to 2026
$28.9M
CSRD VA I01 CX001621NIA NIH HHS P30 AG028747
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveBalance and mobility function worsen with age, more so for those with underlying chronic diseases. We recently found that asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) restricts blood flow to the brain and might also contribute to balance and mobility impairment. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that ACAS is a modifiable risk factor for balance and mobility impairment. Our goal was to assess the effect of restoring blood flow to the brain by carotid revascularization on the balance and mobility of patients with high-grade ACAS (≥70% diameter-reducing stenosis).

methodsTwenty adults (age, 67.0 ± 9.4 years) undergoing carotid endarterectomy for high-grade stenosis were enrolled. Balance and mobility assessments were performed before and 6 weeks after revascularization. These included the Short Physical Performance Battery, the Berg Balance Scale, the Four Square Step Test, the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), the Timed Up and Go test, gait speed, the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), and the Walking While Talking complex test.

resultsConsistent with our previous findings, patients demonstrated reduced scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery, Berg Balance Scale, DGI, and Timed Up and Go test and in gait speed. Depending on the outcome measure, 25% to 90% of the patients had scored in the impaired range at baseline. After surgery, significant improvements were observed in the outcome measures that combined walking with dynamic movements, including the DGI (P = .02) and Mini-BESTest (P = .002). The proportion of patients with Mini-BESTest scores indicating a high fall risk had decreased significantly from 90% (n = 18) at baseline to 40% (n = 8) after surgery (P = .02). We used Pearson's correlations to examine the relationship between balance and mobility before surgery and the change after surgery. Patients with lower baseline DGI and Mini-BESTest scores demonstrated the most improvement after surgery (r = -0.59, P = .006; and r = -0.70, P = .001, respectively).

conclusionsCarotid revascularization improved patients' balance and mobility, especially for measures that combine walking and dynamic movements. The greatest improvements were observed for the patients who had been most impaired at baseline.

Indexed as

Cerebrovascular CirculationEndarterectomy, CarotidPostural BalanceWalkingAccidental FallsAgedAge FactorsAsymptomatic DiseasesBrainCarotid StenosisFemaleFunctional StatusHumansMaleMiddle AgedMobility LimitationAsymptomatic carotid artery stenosisBalanceMobilityRevascularization

Identifiers

PMID34019991
PMCPMC8958337
OpenAlexW3163061758

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.