Fall frequency and risk factors in patients with P arkinson's disease in B elgrade, S erbia: A cross‐sectional study

Aim The aim of the present study was to estimate fall frequency as well as demographic and clinical factors related to falling in a cohort of Serbian patients with P arkinson's disease ( PD ). Method The cross‐sectional study comprised 300 consecutive patients recruited at the Neurology Clinic in B elgrade, Serbia, from A ugust 2011 to D ecember 2012. Data were acquired though detailed interviews, while a history of falling referred to the period of 6 months before testing. After a interview related to the circumstances of the last fall sustained by PD patients, the participants were evaluated with the Mini‐Mental State Examination, the Unified P arkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the H oehn and Y ahr scale, the Falls Efficacy Scale and the Self‐Assessment Disability Scale, New Freezing of Gait questionnaire for frequency and impact of freezing, and the Hamilton Depression and the H amilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Results A total of 60% of individuals reported a fall in the 6‐month period before testing. Multivariate regression showed that patients with PD who had a Self‐Assessment Disability Scale score of ≥56 and Unified P arkinson's Disease Rating Scale total score of ≥69 were 2.04 and 3.32 times more likely to fall, respectively (95% CI 1.10–3.79, P  = 0.023 for Self‐Assessment Disability Scale and 95% CI 1.83–6.00, P  = 0.001 for Unified P arkinson's Disease Rating Scale). In contrast, a decrease of risk for falling by 57% was observed among those who practiced regular physical activity before the onset of PD (95% CI 0.23–0.80, P  = 0.008). Conclusion There is a strong relationship between falling and self‐perceived disability, whereas previous physical exercise had a protective effect. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 472–480.