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Factors associated with falls in older patients with diffuse polyneuropathy
1University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. jkrich@umich.edu
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|November 2, 2002
Summary
Older individuals with polyneuropathy (PN) experiencing falls are often linked to higher body mass index (BMI) and more severe PN. These factors indicate a particularly high risk for falls and should guide targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Polyneuropathy (PN) significantly increases fall risk in older adults.
- Identifying specific clinical factors associated with falls in this population is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify clinical factors associated with falls in older persons diagnosed with polyneuropathy (PN).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 82 participants (aged 50-85) with confirmed PN.
- Utilized clinical history, physical examination, semiquantitative nerve function tests, and clinical balance assessments.
- Falls were self-reported retrospectively over a two-year period.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of participants reported at least one fall; 34.1% reported multiple falls, and 22.0% reported injurious falls.
- Increased body mass index (BMI) and greater polyneuropathy (PN) severity were significantly associated with multiple and injurious falls.
- Logistic regression confirmed that higher BMI and more severe PN predicted falls, even after controlling for age, sex, medications, and comorbidities.
Conclusions:
- Older adults with polyneuropathy (PN) and elevated BMI or severe PN are at exceptionally high risk for falls.
- These high-risk individuals should be prioritized for targeted fall prevention interventions.