@article{ref1,
title="Frailty and falls in people living with multiple sclerosis",
journal="Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2021",
author="Zanotto, Tobia and Galperin, Irina and Mirelman, Anat and Yehezkiyahu, Shahar and Estes, John and Chen, Lingjun and Regev, Keren and Karni, Arnon and Schmitz-Hübsch, Tanja and Paul, Friedemann and Lynch, Sharon G. and Akinwuntan, Abiodun E. and Devos, Hannes and Hausdorff, Jeffrey M. and Sosnoff, Jacob J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between frailty and history of falls in people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). <br><br>DESIGN: Secondary analysis. SETTING: University research laboratories in the United States and Israel. PARTICIPANTS: 118 people with relapsing-remitting MS [age=48.9 years (SD=10.0); 74.6% female; expanded disability status scale (EDSS) range=1.0-6.0] were studied in this cross-sectional analysis. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOMES: A frailty index was calculated from 40 health deficits by following standard validated procedures. The number of falls (12-month history) was recorded. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 33.9%, 29.7%, and 36.4% of participants were classified as non-frail, moderately frail, and severely frail, respectively. The frailty index was significantly correlated (ρ=0.37, p<0.001) with higher scores on the EDSS. In univariable negative binomial regression analysis, the frailty index was associated with a higher number of falls (IRR=3.33, 95%CI[1.85-5.99], p<0.001). After adjustment for age, gender and EDSS, frailty remained strongly associated with history of falls (IRR=2.78, 95%CI[1.51-5.10], p=0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: The current study identifies a significant relationship between frailty and history of falls in MS, independent of age, gender, and disease severity. These findings support the notion that frailty is a syndrome related to, but independent of, disability in MS.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-9993",
doi="10.1016/j.apmr.2021.10.025",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.10.025"
}