title: External validation of a 3-step falls prediction model in mild Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The 3-step falls prediction model (3-step model) that include history of falls, history of freezing of gait and comfortable gait speed <1.1 m/s was suggested as a clinical fall prediction tool in Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to externally validate this model as well as to explore the value of additional predictors in 138 individuals with relatively mild PD. We found the discriminative ability of the 3-step model in identifying fallers to be comparable to previously studies [area under curve (AUC), 0.74; 95 % CI 0.65-0.84] and to be better than that of single predictors (AUC, 0.61-0.69). Extended analyses generated a new model for prediction of falls and near falls (AUC, 0.82; 95 % CI 0.75-0.89) including history of near falls, retropulsion according to the Nutt Retropulsion test (NRT) and tandem gait (TG). This study confirms the value of the 3-step model as a clinical falls prediction tool in relatively mild PD and illustrates that it outperforms the use of single predictors. However, to improve future outcomes, further studies are needed to firmly establish a scoring system and risk categories based on this model. The influence of methodological aspects of data collection also needs to be scrutinized. A new model for prediction of falls and near falls, including history of near falls, TG and retropulsion (NRT) may be considered as an alternative to the 3-step model, but needs to be tested in additional samples before being recommended. Taken together, our observations provide important additions to the evidence base for clinical fall prediction in PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. beata.lindholm@med.lu.se.|Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. beata.lindholm@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-9847
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.|Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.|Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Oskar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.affiliation: The PRO-CARE Group, School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hagell
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Balance; Falls; Gait; Near falls; Parkinon disease; Prediction