Presented at the recent annual AAN conference in Washington, DC:
[P1.130] Longitudinal Evaluation of Falls and Fall Prevention Strategies in Multiple Sclerosis
Michelle Cameron,1,1Miho Asano,2Elizabeth W. Peterson,3Marcia Finlayson2
1Portland, OR, USA, 2Kingston, ON, Canada, 3Chicago, IL, USA.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess changes in falls and fall prevention strategies in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) over 2 years.
BACKGROUND:
People with MS fall frequently and use various strategies to manage fall risk. Changes in fall incidence and use of fall prevention strategies over time are not well understood.
DESIGN/METHODS:
58 community-dwelling people with MS aged 18-50 with EDSS ≤ 6.0 were followed for 24 months. The number of falls in the previous 12 months, fall prevention strategy use (fall prevention strategy survey (FPSS) responses), and demographics, were reported at baseline, 12 months and 24 months. Changes in the proportion of recurrent fallers (≥ 2 falls in the prior 12 months) and use of fall prevention strategies were assessed.
RESULTS:
At baseline, subjects’ average age was 40 years old and their average EDSS score was 2.7. 70% were female and 95% had relapsing remitting MS.
The proportions of recurrent fallers did not change significantly over time (baseline and 12 months: 62%; 24 months: 57%; Cochran’s Q test, p=0.53). FPSS scores and the number of fall prevention strategies used did change significantly over time (median scores/number at baseline: 5/5, 12 months: 6 (p=0.04)/6 (p<0.01), 24 months: 7 (p=0.02)/5.5 (p=0.04)).
The type and specific strategies used also changed over time. At all time points, turning on lights was the most popular strategy and talking to health care professionals about fall prevention and medications, the most challenging behaviors, were the least used strategies. However, over time, more people avoided high risk activities, monitored and managed their MS symptoms, and asked other people for help, to prevent falls.
CONCLUSIONS:
Many people with MS fall recurrently. The strategies they use to prevent falls change over time suggesting they may be taking action in response to their fall experiences and thus receptive to fall prevention interventions.
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Category - MS and CNS Inflammatory Disease: Clinical Science
Session: P1: Poster Session I: MS and CNS Inflammatory Diseases: Symptoms, Specific Symptomatic Treatments, Co-morbidities, and Costs (2:00 PM-6:30 PM)
Date/Time: Monday, April 20, 2015 - 2:00 pm
The abstract can be seen
here.