title: Risk of falling in Parkinson's disease at the Hoehn-Yahr stage III.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is difficult to predict the risk of falling, especially in patients with good motor ability, and the mechanisms underlying the relation between gait patterns and falling in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain unclear. We investigated factors related to falling, including walking speed and time, in patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage III PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed clinical assessments and evaluated balance in 30 patients with PD. Information on falling was obtained from questionnaires and personal interviews. Gait patterns were analyzed with the use of an originally designed, suddenly narrowed path.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gait velocity was slower in fallers than in non-fallers (p = 0.047). Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II (UPDRS part II) score, fear of falling, and gait velocity were significantly related to falling on analysis with a single logistic model. When a multiple logistic model was used, the UPDRS part II score was significantly related to falling (OR: 1.48, p = 0.037, 95% CI: 1.02-2.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage III PD showed slow gait velocity attributed to fear of falling before arrival at a narrowed entrance or while walking on a narrowed path. The UPDRS part II score is significantly related to the risk of future falls.
authors: Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan. hk55@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Kataoka
authors: Noriyuki
authors: N
authors: Tanaka
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Eng
authors: Keigo
authors: K
authors: Saeki
authors: Takao
authors: T
authors: Kiriyama
authors: Nobuyuki
authors: N
authors: Eura
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Ikeda
authors: Tesseki
authors: T
authors: Izumi
authors: Takanori
authors: T
authors: Kitauti
authors: Yoshiko
authors: Y
authors: Furiya
authors: Kazuma
authors: K
authors: Sugie
authors: Yoshito
authors: Y
authors: Ikada
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Ueno
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa