Fall frequency and risk factors in patients with Parkinson's disease in Belgrade, Serbia: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Geriatrics & gerontology international 2015-04, Vol.15 (4), p.472-480
• Main Authors: Gazibara, Tatjana, Pekmezovic, Tatjana, Kisic Tepavcevic, Darija, Tomic, Aleksandra, Stankovic, Iva, Kostic, Vladimir S, Svetel, Marina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disability Evaluation; Falls; Female; frequency; Gait; Geriatrics; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Neuropsychological Tests; Parkinson Disease - complications; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson Disease - psychology; Parkinson's disease; Risk Factors; Self-Assessment; Serbia; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1444-1586; 1447-0594
• DOI: 10.1111/ggi.12300

Aim The aim of the present study was to estimate fall frequency as well as demographic and clinical factors related to falling in a cohort of Serbian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Method The cross‐sectional study comprised 300 consecutive patients recruited at the Neurology Clinic in Belgrade, Serbia, from August 2011 to December 2012. Data were acquired though detailed interviews, while a history of falling referred to the period of 6 months before testing. After a interview related to the circumstances of the last fall sustained by PD patients, the participants were evaluated with the Mini‐Mental State Examination, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Hoehn and Yahr scale, the Falls Efficacy Scale and the Self‐Assessment Disability Scale, New Freezing of Gait questionnaire for frequency and impact of freezing, and the Hamilton Depression and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Results A total of 60% of individuals reported a fall in the 6‐month period before testing. Multivariate regression showed that patients with PD who had a Self‐Assessment Disability Scale score of ≥56 and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale total score of ≥69 were 2.04 and 3.32 times more likely to fall, respectively (95% CI 1.10–3.79, P = 0.023 for Self‐Assessment Disability Scale and 95% CI 1.83–6.00, P = 0.001 for Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale). In contrast, a decrease of risk for falling by 57% was observed among those who practiced regular physical activity before the onset of PD (95% CI 0.23–0.80, P = 0.008). Conclusion There is a strong relationship between falling and self‐perceived disability, whereas previous physical exercise had a protective effect. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 472–480.