Abstract
ObjectiveTo compare the risk, circumstances, consequences and causes of prospectively recorded falls between people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and healthy controls of similar age and gender.Methods58 PwMS and 58 healthy controls, who are community-dwelling, were recruited in this 6-month prospective cohort study. 90% of PwMS and 84% of healthy controls completed the study. Participants counted falls prospectively using fall calendars and noted fall location, fall-related injuries, and the cause of the falls. Kaplan Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were performed to compare the distributions of survival without falling between PwMS and healthy controls.Results40.8% of controls and 71.2% of PwMS fell at least once. 48.1% of PwMS and 18.4% of healthy controls fell at least twice. 42.3% of PwMS and 20.4% of health controls sustained a fall-related injury. After adjusting for age and gender, the time to first fall (HR: 1.87, p = 0.033) and the time to recurrent falls (HR: 2.87, p = 0.0082) were significantly different between PwMS and healthy controls. PwMS reported an almost equal number of falls inside and outside, 86% of the falls in healthy controls were outside. Healthy controls were more likely to fall due to slipping on a slippery surface (39.5% vs 10.4%). PwMS more often attributed falls to distraction (31% vs 7%) and uniquely attributed falls to fatigue or heat.ConclusionsFall risk, circumstances, consequences, and causes are different for PwMS than for healthy people of the same age and gender. PwMS fall more, are more likely to be injured by a fall, and often fall indoors. PwMS, but not healthy controls, frequently fall because they are distracted, fatigued or hot.
Highlights
People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have a high incidence of falls. [1,2,3,4] Studies demonstrate that over 50% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) fall in a three to six-month period and around 30 to 50% fall multiple times. [1,5,6] Falls in people with MS are associated with injury [3,7] and death. [8] Falls negatively impact quality of life in individuals with MS causing fear of falling, reduced activities, and reduced community participation [9].Healthy adults fall
While studies indicate either that men with MS are at higher risk for falls than women with MS, [2,3] or that there is no effect of gender on fall risk in MS, [1,11] one study in Veterans with MS found that injurious falls were significantly more common in women with MS than in women without MS but that there was not a significant difference in the risk for injurious falls in men with MS compared to men without MS [12]
Cox proportional hazards model was used to test whether time to first fall and time to recurrent fall were significantly different between PwMS and healthy controls after adjusting for age and gender
Summary
People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have a high incidence of falls. [1,2,3,4] Studies demonstrate that over 50% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) fall in a three to six-month period and around 30 to 50% fall multiple times. [1,5,6] Falls in people with MS are associated with injury [3,7] and death. [8] Falls negatively impact quality of life in individuals with MS causing fear of falling, reduced activities, and reduced community participation [9].Healthy adults fall. [1,2,3,4] Studies demonstrate that over 50% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) fall in a three to six-month period and around 30 to 50% fall multiple times. Older adults fall frequently and suffer significant consequences from these falls. Falls in older adults have been studied extensively. [10] little is known about how the frequency, circumstances and consequences of falls in adults of a similar age and gender distribution to PwMS, who are young and predominantly female. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence, circumstances, consequences and causes of prospectively recorded falls in a cohort of people with MS with the incidence, circumstances, consequences and causes of prospectively recorded falls in a cohort healthy control subjects While studies indicate either that men with MS are at higher risk for falls than women with MS, [2,3] or that there is no effect of gender on fall risk in MS, [1,11] one study in Veterans with MS found that injurious falls were significantly more common in women with MS than in women without MS but that there was not a significant difference in the risk for injurious falls in men with MS compared to men without MS [12].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
