Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of falls and fall predictors in patients with
Parkinson disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke using the same study
design. DESIGN: Multicenter prospective cohort study. SETTING: Institutions for
physical therapy and rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=299) with PD
(n=94), MS (n=111), and stroke (n=94) seen for rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional scales were applied to investigate
balance, disability, daily performance, self-confidence with balance, and social
integration. Patients were followed for 6 months. Telephone interviews were
organized at 2, 4, and 6 months to record falls and fall-related injuries.
Incidence ratios, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox proportional hazards
models were used. RESULTS: Of the 299 patients enrolled, 259 had complete
follow-up. One hundred and twenty-two patients (47.1%) fell at least once; 82
(31.7%) were recurrent fallers and 44 (17.0%) suffered injuries; and 16%, 32%,
and 40% fell at 2, 4, and 6 months. Risk of falls was associated with disease
type (PD, MS, and stroke in decreasing order) and confidence with balance
(Activities-specific Balance Confidence [ABC] scale). Recurrent fallers were 7%,
15%, and 24% at 2, 4, and 6 months. The risk of recurrent falls was associated
with disease type, high educational level, and ABC score. Injured fallers were
3%, 8%, and 12% at 2, 4, and 6 months. The only predictor of falls with injuries
was disease type (PD). CONCLUSIONS: PD, MS, and stroke carry a high risk of
falls. Other predictors include perceived balance confidence and high educational
level.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS