title: External validation of a simple clinical tool used to predict falls in people with Parkinson disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of fall risk in an individual with Parkinson disease (PD) is a critical yet often time consuming component of patient care. Recently a simple clinical prediction tool based only on fall history in the previous year, freezing of gait in the past month, and gait velocity <1.1 m/s was developed and accurately predicted future falls in a sample of individuals with PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We sought to externally validate the utility of the tool by administering it to a different cohort of 171 individuals with PD. Falls were monitored prospectively for 6 months following predictor assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tool accurately discriminated future fallers from non-fallers (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.83; 95% CI 0.76-0.89), comparable to the developmental study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results validated the utility of the tool for allowing clinicians to quickly and accurately identify an individual's risk of an impending fall.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Program in Physical Therapy, USA; Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Department of Neurology, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Department of Physical Therapy, USA.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Program in Physical Therapy, USA; Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Department of Neurology, USA; Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, USA.
authors.forename: Gammon M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Earhart
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, USA.
authors.forename: Terry D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions, Department of Physical Therapy, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy, USA.
authors.forename: K Bo
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Program in Physical Therapy, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Leddy
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy, USA; The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Australia.
authors.forename: Serene S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australia.
authors.forename: Colleen G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Canning
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thackeray
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy, USA. Electronic address: Lee.dibble@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Leland E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dibble
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Fall prediction; Fall risk; Falls; Parkinson disease