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Predictive Factors of Concerns about Falling in People with Parkinson's Disease : A 3-Year Longitudinal Study

Lindh-Rengifo, Magnus LU orcid ; Jonasson, Stina B. LU orcid ; Mattsson, Niklas LU orcid ; Ullén, Susann LU and Nilsson, Maria H. LU orcid (2019) In Parkinson's Disease 2019.
Abstract

Introduction: Fear of falling (FOF) is more common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) than in healthy controls. It can lead to several negative consequences such as restrictions in everyday life. Moreover, FOF is a risk factor for future falls. Aim: This study aimed to identify predictive factors of FOF (conceptualized as concerns about falling) after three years, with and without adjusting for concerns about falling at baseline, in people with PD. Methods: This study included 151 participants (35% women) with PD. At baseline, their mean (SD) age and PD duration were 68 (±9.0) and 9 (±6.1) years, respectively. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) was used as the dependent variable in multivariable linear regression... (More)

Introduction: Fear of falling (FOF) is more common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) than in healthy controls. It can lead to several negative consequences such as restrictions in everyday life. Moreover, FOF is a risk factor for future falls. Aim: This study aimed to identify predictive factors of FOF (conceptualized as concerns about falling) after three years, with and without adjusting for concerns about falling at baseline, in people with PD. Methods: This study included 151 participants (35% women) with PD. At baseline, their mean (SD) age and PD duration were 68 (±9.0) and 9 (±6.1) years, respectively. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) was used as the dependent variable in multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: The mean (SD) FES-I score increased from 28.1 (11.9) to 33.1 (14.0) three years later (p<0.001). The strongest (according to the standardized regression coefficient, β) predictor of concerns about falling was walking difficulties (β = 0.378), followed by age (0.227), problems maintaining balance while dual tasking (0.172), and needing help in daily activities (0.171). When adjusting for baseline FES-I scores, the strongest predictive factor was problems maintaining balance while dual tasking (β = 0.161), which was followed by age (0.131) and female sex (0.105). Conclusions: This study pinpoints several predictive factors of concerns about falling that are modifiable and which could be addressed in rehabilitation: perceived walking difficulties, having problems maintaining balance while dual tasking, and dependence on others in daily activities. The importance of dual tasking is a novel finding, which future studies need to confirm or refute. One should be aware of the fact that an increased age predicts concerns about falling with and without adjusting for baseline FES-I scores, whereas female sex predicts concerns about falling only when adjusting for baseline FES-I scores.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Parkinson's Disease
volume
2019
article number
4747320
publisher
Hindawi Limited
external identifiers
  • pmid:31915520
  • scopus:85077463455
ISSN
2042-0080
DOI
10.1155/2019/4747320
project
Motor aspects in neurodegenerative diseases
Home and health in people ageing with Parkinson's disease
Home, Health and Disability along the Process of Ageing
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3dd1970c-341f-415f-9906-603eeb0f5457
date added to LUP
2020-01-20 10:32:33
date last changed
2024-03-20 03:54:44
@article{3dd1970c-341f-415f-9906-603eeb0f5457,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Fear of falling (FOF) is more common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) than in healthy controls. It can lead to several negative consequences such as restrictions in everyday life. Moreover, FOF is a risk factor for future falls. Aim: This study aimed to identify predictive factors of FOF (conceptualized as concerns about falling) after three years, with and without adjusting for concerns about falling at baseline, in people with PD. Methods: This study included 151 participants (35% women) with PD. At baseline, their mean (SD) age and PD duration were 68 (±9.0) and 9 (±6.1) years, respectively. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) was used as the dependent variable in multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: The mean (SD) FES-I score increased from 28.1 (11.9) to 33.1 (14.0) three years later (p&lt;0.001). The strongest (according to the standardized regression coefficient, β) predictor of concerns about falling was walking difficulties (β = 0.378), followed by age (0.227), problems maintaining balance while dual tasking (0.172), and needing help in daily activities (0.171). When adjusting for baseline FES-I scores, the strongest predictive factor was problems maintaining balance while dual tasking (β = 0.161), which was followed by age (0.131) and female sex (0.105). Conclusions: This study pinpoints several predictive factors of concerns about falling that are modifiable and which could be addressed in rehabilitation: perceived walking difficulties, having problems maintaining balance while dual tasking, and dependence on others in daily activities. The importance of dual tasking is a novel finding, which future studies need to confirm or refute. One should be aware of the fact that an increased age predicts concerns about falling with and without adjusting for baseline FES-I scores, whereas female sex predicts concerns about falling only when adjusting for baseline FES-I scores.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindh-Rengifo, Magnus and Jonasson, Stina B. and Mattsson, Niklas and Ullén, Susann and Nilsson, Maria H.}},
  issn         = {{2042-0080}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Hindawi Limited}},
  series       = {{Parkinson's Disease}},
  title        = {{Predictive Factors of Concerns about Falling in People with Parkinson's Disease : A 3-Year Longitudinal Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4747320}},
  doi          = {{10.1155/2019/4747320}},
  volume       = {{2019}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}