title: Cardiovascular dysautonomia as a cause of falls in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have a ninefold increased risk of recurring falls compared to healthy controls. The risk of falling due to cardiovascular dysautonomia (CVD) is not quantifiable. But, CVD is an integral part of the disease and at least 20% of PD patients suffer from orthostatic hypotension, an expression of CVD. One way to reduce falls due to CVD in PD patients could be to give adequate information on the relationship between falling risks and cardiovascular dysautonomia to patients and their caregivers. Moreover, drugs given for PD might contribute to OH and we propose that education and non-pharmacological strategies for its treatment might be preferable, especially because of the low efficacy of drugs available for the treatment of OH and the frailty of elderly PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neurorehabilitation and Movement Disorders, IRCCS S. Maugeri Foundation, Scientific Institute of Veruno (NO) and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro, Novara, Italy. emilia.martignoni@libero.it
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martignoni
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tassorelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012306:Risk