2026 Volume 6 Pages 63-68
Purpose: Falls are a common complication in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), frequently resulting in injury, fracture, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to identify factors associated with a high frequency of falls and to inform clinical decision-making in PD rehabilitation.
Methods: The study included 98 ambulatory inpatients with PD. They were divided into two groups according to whether they had experienced two or more falls in the month before admission. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and motor function during the on state were compared between groups. Factors associated with frequent falls were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and cut-off values for significant predictors were determined from receiver operating characteristic curves.
Results: Independent predictors of frequent falls were disease duration (odds ratio 1.16, p < 0.01) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score (odds ratio 0.92, p < 0.05). The cut-off values were 15 years for disease duration (sensitivity 45.0%, specificity 93.6%) and 53 points for BBS (sensitivity 90.0%, specificity 43.6%), both showing adequate ability to discriminate patients at high risk of frequent falls.
Conclusion: Disease duration and BBS are useful screening indicators for frequent falls in patients with PD. BBS should be emphasized as a key clinical evaluation index from the early stages of PD. Early interventions to maintain or improve balance function are essential to reduce fall risk.
