title: Incidence and prediction of falls in Parkinson's disease: a prospective multidisciplinary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To accurately establish the incidence of falls in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to investigate predictive risk factors for fallers from baseline data.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: 25 Churchill Mews, St Peter's Marina, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1BH, UK.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bilclough
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowron
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors