A Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of Height, Age, Sex on the Nerve Conduction Studies in Elderly Koreans

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2010;12(2):87-95.
Published online October 1, 2010.

Abstract

Objectives: We designed this study to evaluate the effects of height, age and sex on the parameters of nerve conduction studies (NCS) in elderly subjects who are susceptible to peripheral polyneruopathy. Methods: We enrolled 156 elderly subjects who are over 60 years old without any history or symptom such as cerebrovascular disease, neuopathy, cancer, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, cardiac disease, renal disease, vasculitis, which can affect the results of NCS. We performed NCS on their both peroneal, posterior tibial and sural nerves and evaluated nerve conduction velocities, distal latencies, CMAP and SNAP amplitudes. Results: Distal latencies of male group is delayed than that of female group. Conduction velocities of male group is slower than that of female group. Conduction velocities has a negative correlation with age (r=-0.230~-0.107, p=0.000~0.030) and heigh t (r=-0.290~-0.210, p=0.000). Distal latency has a positive correlation with height (r=0.232~0.243, p=0.000). Amplitude has a negative correlation with age only (r=-0.215~-0.117, p=0.000~0.043). Conclusion: For more reliable and consistent diagnosis of peripheral polyneuropathy in elderly, electromyographers should take into consideration physiologic factors such as age, height and sex.

Key Words: Elderly, Nerve conduction studies, Height, Age, Sex