Frequency of Falls and Relationship Between Falls, Socio-demographic and Clinical Factors in Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Objective: Falls are major problems for people with Parkinson’s disease. This study aimed to determine fall frequency, and the relation of socio-demographic and clinical factors in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPH). Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven patients with IPH who were under follow-up in Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Neurology Department [37 females (42.5%), and 50 males (57.5%)] were included in the study. The participants were evaluated with neurologic examination, mini-mental state examination, the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), 6-meter walking test, turning time, freezing phenomenon, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) Scale, and ranking of fear of falls. Fall was recorded as history of fall in the 6 months before testing. Results: A total of 22 (25.3%) patients reported a fall in the 6-month period before testing. Twenty-five patients (28.7%) were stage 1.5, and 22 (25.3%) were stage 2 according to the H&Y Scale. Freezing phenomenon was observed in 34 39.1%) patients. There was no significant difference between patients with and without a history of falls according to age, sex, education, occupation, and marital status (p>0.05). According to disease period, H&Y Scale and the UPDRS, motor, turning time 360 degrees from right, turning time 360 degrees from left, balance defect at 360 degrees right turning, balance defect at 360 degrees left turning, and freezing phenomenon there were no significant difference between those with and without a history of fall (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between those who had fallen and had not fallen according to UPDRS-mental, UPDRS-ADL, degree of fear of falling, 6-m walking time, 6-m walking test, and number of steps (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that frequency of falls and walking speed, fear of falling, activities of daily living, and mental function are important factors for falls in IPH. Fall assessment in IPH is needed for a multifactorial approach and determining these factors will be helpful for taking measures against falls

Keywords

• Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
• falls
• walking speed
• turning