Falls and fear of falling: an underestimated sequelae in Behçet’s disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Behçet’s disease (BD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Balance is a multifactorial process that is ultimately affected in BD leading to frequent falls. Fear of falling (FOF) is a significant risk factor for falls. The study aimed to evaluate the risk of falls and FOF in BD and their relations to disease activity and damage. Results In BD patients, the history of falls and FOF was 65.6% and 48.4%, respectively. The Berg Balance Scale was low in BD patients (P = 0.003). Falls and fear of falling showed significant relations with the disease activity and disease damage (P < 0.001). There were significant relations between fallers with arthritis (P = 0.003) and active neurological affection (P = 0.004) than non-fallers. A higher balance scale significantly independently decreases the risk of falls (AOR = 0.79, P = 0.005) and FOF (AOR = 0.904, P = 0.039); however, high BD damage and disease duration increase the risk with AOR = 2.364, P = 0.009 and AOR = 0.769, P = 0.088, respectively. Conclusion Arthritis and active neurological affection are significantly related to falls and FOF; also, FOF is significantly related to active uveitis. Impaired balance, long disease duration, and high disease damage score are significant risk factors for falls and FOF in BD.

Keywords

• Behçet’s disease
• Falls
• Fear of falls
• Balance