A community-dwelling sample of people with Parkinson's disease: characteristics of fallers and non-fallers

Background: people with Parkinson's disease often fall. Objectives: to report the frequency of falls and characteristics of fallers and non-fallers in a community-based sample of people with Parkinson's dis ease. Method: we administered a battery of standardized tests in the home and the laboratory. Results: we recruited 63 people with Parkinson's disease through general pr actices. Forty (64%, 95% confidence interval 51-74%) had fallen in the prev ious 12 months, Many factors associated with falling in the general populat ion were associated with Parkinson's disease fallers (e.g use of multiple m edication and greater physical disability). Fallers were more likely to be depressed and anxious than non-fallers. Condition-specific factors associat ed with falling included greater disease severity (although there were exce ptions) and more marked response to levodopa treatment, including more dysk inesia and on-off phenomena. Fallers took more steps to complete a test of mobility They also had a shorter functional reach and greater postural sway whilst completing a dual task than non-fallers. Conclusion: this community-based study confirms the high risk of falling in Parkinson's disease. Our results suggest that disease-specific factors con tribute to the increased risk and that there is scope for specific therapeu tic interventions.