Table 3. Descriptive statistics and results from simple logistic regression analyses for potential predictors of future falls and/or near falls.
| Independent variables 1 | No falls or near fallsn = 78 | Falls and/or near fallsn = 63 | Simple logistic regression analyses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR (95% CI) | P value | |||
| Age (years) mean (SD) | 66 (10.4) | 70 (8.3) | – | – |
| Female gender, n (%) | 30 (38) | 35 (56) | – | – |
| PD-duration (years), median (q1–q3) | 2 (5–5) | 4 (1–8) | 1.12 (1.03–1.22) | 0.011 |
| Cognition (MMSE), median (q1–q3) | 28 (26–29) 2 | 27 (26–29) | 1.20 (1.01–1.42) | 0.034 |
| Motor symptoms (UPDRS III), median (q1–q3) | 11.5 (7–15) | 18 (10–23) | 1.13 (1.07–1.2) | <0.001 |
| Dyskinesia (UPDRS IV item 32), n (%) a | 22 (29) 3 | 24 (38) | 1.51 (0.74–3.07) | 0.255 |
| Balance (BBS), median (q1–q3) | 55 (52–56) | 50 (42–54) | 1.20 (1.11–1.30) | <0.001 |
| Comfortable gait speed (10MWT) (m/s), mean (SD) | 1.24 (0.22) | 1.02 (0.31) | 21.92 (5.3–90.44) | <0.001 |
| Fatigue (FACIT-F), median (q1–q3) | 41.5 (36–47) | 31.5 (23–41) | 1.11(1.06–1.16) | <0.001 |
| Pain, n (%) | 15 (19) | 25 (40) | 2.76 (1.30–5.89) | 0.008 |
| Walking difficulties (Walk-12G), median (q1–q3) | 6 (2–10) | 17 (9–25) | 1.12 (1.07–1,17) | <0.001 |
| Fear of falling (FES[S]), median (q1–q3) | 127 (117–130) 3 | 88 (60–122) 3 | 1.03 (1.02–1.05) | <0.001 |
| History of falls past 6 months, n (%) | 9 (11.5) | 25 (40) | 5.04 (2.14–11.90) | <0.001 |
| History of near falls, n (%) | 13 (17) | 37 (59) | 7.12 (3.27–15.50) | <0.001 |
| Balance problems while dual-tasking, n (%) | 26 (33) | 42 (67) | 4.00 (1.92–8.09) | <0.001 |
| Need help from others in daily activities (PADLS), n (%) b | 1 (1.3) 2 | 12 (19) | 17.88 (2.55–141.80) | 0.006 |
| Freezing of gait (item 3, FOGQsa), n (%) c | 19 (25) 2 | 39 (62) | 4.96 (2.40–10.25) | <0.001 |
| Turning hesitations (item 6, FOGQsa), n (%) d | 16 (21) 2 | 33 (52) | 4.19 (2.00–8.79) | <0.001 |
| Retropulsion (NRT), n (%) e | 11 (14) | 24 (38) | 3.75 (1.66–8.47) | 0.001 |
1 For the regression analysis, scores were adjusted to be in the same direction: higher scores = more problems.
2 One missing value
3 Two missing values
a Item 32 of the UPDRS part IV. Those scoring ≥1 were categorized as having dyskinesias.
b Those scoring >2 on the PADLS were categorized as needing help from others in daily activities.
c Item 3 (“freezing”) of the FOGQsa. Those scoring ≥1 were categorized as freezers.
d Item 6 (“turning hesitations”) of the FOGQsa. Those scoring ≥1 were categorized as having turning hesitations.
e Scores ≥1 on the NRT were categorized as having retropulsion
Wald test
BBS, Berg Balance Scale; FACIT-F, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue; FES(S), Falls Efficacy Scale, (Swedish version); FOGQsa, Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, self-administered version; MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination; NRT, Nutt Retropulsion Test; PADLS, the Parkinson’s disease Activities of Daily Living Scale; q1–q3, 1st-3rd quartile; SD, standard deviation; UPDRS III, part III (motor score) of the Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale; UPDRS IV, part IV (complications of therapy), item 32; 10MWT, 10-Meter Walk Test; m/s, meters per second; Walk-12G, 12-item generic walking scale.