@article{ref1,
title="Falls, fractures and bone density in Parkinson's disease: across-sectional study",
journal="International journal of neuroscience",
year="2016",
author="Tassorelli, Cristina and Berlangieri, Mariangela and Buscone, Simona and Bolla, Monica and De Icco, Roberto and Baricich, Alessio and Pacchetti, Claudio and Cisari, Carlo and Sandrini, Giorgio",
volume="127",
number="4",
pages="299-304",
abstract="Aim - Evidence suggests that falls and associated bone fractures are more frequent in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) than in the general population. In this cross-sectional study we evaluated the clinical and biochemical characteristics that are associated to falls, fractures and bone health in a population of PD subjects. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS - Forty-two consecutive subjects suffering from idiopathic PD (mild-to-moderate severity) with/without falls in the previous year were included. They were characterized as regards functional independence, balance, fear of falling, bone density (ultrasound densitometry) and plasma levels of vitamin D. Twenty-one age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were evaluated as controls. <br><br>RESULTS - We detected a greater degree of osteoporosis in PD subjects as compared to controls, more pronounced in males than in females (Z-Score: M -3.8 ± 1.6, F -2.28 ± 0.92, p = 0.0006). A positive correlation was found between independence levels and bone density or D vitamin levels. Twenty seven patients (64%) reported falls in the previous year. These were associated to post-traumatic fractures in 16 subjects (59% of fallers). Women fell more than males (fallers: 20F/7M; non fallers: 4F/11M, χ(2) test p = 0.02), although the occurrence of post-traumatic fractures among fallers did not differ between sexes (F 11/9, M 5/2, χ(2) test p > 0.05). Fallers with post-traumatic fractures showed higher degrees of motor impairment. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS - These findings confirm that falls and osteoporosis represent major health issues in PD, already in the middle stages of disease.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0020-7454",
doi="10.1080/00207454.2016.1206897",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207454.2016.1206897"
}