title: Recurrent falls in Parkinson's disease after one year of follow-up: A nested case-control study.
abstract: The aims of this study were to compare clinical and fall characteristics of single and recurrent falls among persons with PD and to evaluate factors associated with recurrent falls. A total of 120 consecutive persons with PD, who denied having fallen in the past 6 months, were recruited. Occurrence of falling was registered during one year. Each person was given a "fall diary" with the aim at writing characteristics of the fall and contacted by telephone each month. Over one year of follow-up 42 persons with PD (35.0%) reported falling. Of 42 persons, 19 (45.2%) went on to become single and 23 (54.8%) went on to become recurrent fallers. Indoor falls were more common among single fallers, whilst outdoor falls were more common among recurrent fallers (p=0.017). Slipping and freezing of gait was more common among single fallers (p=0.035 and p=0.024, respectively). Lower extremity weakness was more frequent among recurrent fallers (p=0.023). The most common injury both among single and recurrent fallers was the soft-tissue contusion. The only factor associated with recurrent falling among persons with PD, who did not fall in past 6 months before the start of follow-up, was worse motor performance as measured by the UPDRS III score (odds ratio [OR]=1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.11, p=0.022). These results could be used in selection of persons with PD to enroll in fall prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gazibara
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Darija Kisic
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Tepavcevic
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svetel
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomic
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladimir S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Kostic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: pekmezovic@sezampro.rs.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pekmezovic
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D012008:Recurrence
keywords: Falls; Injuries; Parkinson’s disease; Recurrent; Risk factors