Incidence and prediction of falls in Parkinson's disease: a prospective multidisciplinary study

TLDR

To determine the incidence of falls in Parkinson’s disease and identify baseline predictors of falling. A cohort of 109 idiopathic PD patients underwent a multidisciplinary baseline assessment—including demographic, historical, disease‑specific rating scales, physiotherapy, visual, cardiovascular, autonomic tests, and bone densitometry—and were prospectively followed for one year using weekly prepaid postcards and telephone contact. Falls occurred in 68.3 % of participants; independent predictors were prior falls, longer disease duration, dementia, and loss of arm swing, with additional associations to disease severity, balance impairment, and depression, indicating that falls are common and many risk factors are potentially modifiable. Future studies should investigate interventions to prevent falls in Parkinson’s disease.

Abstract

<b>Objectives:</b> To accurately establish the incidence of falls in Parkinson9s disease (PD) and to investigate predictive risk factors for fallers from baseline data. <b>Methods:</b> 109 subjects with idiopathic PD diagnosed according to the brain bank criteria underwent a multidisciplinary baseline assessment comprising demographic and historical data, disease specific rating scales, physiotherapy assessment, tests of visual, cardiovascular and autonomic function, and bone densitometry. Patients were then prospectively followed up for one year using weekly prepaid postcards along with telephone follow up. <b>Results:</b> Falls occurred in 68.3% of the subjects. Previous falls, disease duration, dementia, and loss of arm swing were independent predictors of falling. There were also significant associations between disease severity, balance impairment, depression, and falling. <b>Conclusions:</b> Falls are a common problem in PD and some of the major risk factors are potentially modifiable. There is a need for future studies to look at interventions to prevent falls in PD.