@article{ref1,
title="Prediction of falls in subjects suffering from Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke",
journal="Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2018",
author="Beghi, Ettore and Gervasoni, Elisa and Pupillo, Elisabetta and Bianchi, Elisa and Montesano, Angelo and Aprile, Irene and Agostini, Michela and Rovaris, Marco and Cattaneo, Davide",
volume="99",
number="4",
pages="641-651",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of falls and fall predictors in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke using the same study design. <br><br>DESIGN: Multicenter prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three [masked] institutions for physical therapy and rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with PD, MS and stroke seen for rehabilitation. 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. <br><br>RESULTS: 299 patients (MS 111, PD and stroke 94 each) were enrolled and 259 had complete follow-up. One hundred and twenty-two (47.1%) fell at least once; 82 (31.7%) were recurrent fallers, 44 (17.0%) suffered injuries; 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 (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 the 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). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: PD, MS and stroke carry a high risk of falls. Other predictors include perceived balance confidence and high educational level.<br><br>Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-9993",
doi="10.1016/j.apmr.2017.10.009",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.10.009"
}