Multifactor analysis for risk factors involved in the fear of falling in patients with chronic stroke from mainland China.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the risk factors involved in FOF in patients with chronic stroke from mainland China.


METHODS
A cohort of 245 patients with chronic stroke were included in this study. Fear of falling severity was assessed using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. Physical function was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), and the lower extremity of Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Psychosocial function was assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Social Support Rating Scale, respectively. All factors related to FOF severity were analyzed by regression analysis.


RESULTS
Statistically significant factors affecting FOF severity included age, history of falling, balance, functional mobility, economic burden, and depression. Participants with a history of falls (N = 81) were divided into high (score ≥ 70, N = 19) and low ABC score (score < 70, N = 62) groups. Compared with the low ABC score group, the high ABC score group had higher BBS scores, and lower CES-D scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that - in addition to age, economic burden, and a history of falls - balance, functional mobility, and depression are risk factors associated with FOF in patients with chronic stroke in mainland China.
Qiang
Q
Guan
Lingjing
L
Jin
Yunxia
Y
Li
Hongjie
H
Han
Yuguo
Y
Zheng
Zhiyu
Z
Nie
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D004856:Postural Balance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
Chinese,; Falls,; Risk factors; Stroke,