Identifying falls remotely in people with multiple sclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Falling is prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS) but often overlooked in clinical practice.
• Under-ascertainment and under-treatment of falls in MS patients are significant concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate fall risk factors in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).
• To identify predictors of falling in the MS population.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 94 individuals with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale ≤ 6.5).
• Collected clinic-based measures, patient-reported outcomes (including fall surveys and MS Walking Scale-12), and daily step counts via accelerometers over 12 months.

Main Results:

• 53.2% of participants reported at least one fall, with only 56% documented in medical records.
• Fallers exhibited greater disability (EDSS), were more likely to have progressive MS, and took fewer daily steps compared to non-fallers.
• The MS Walking Scale-12 emerged as a significant predictor of future falls.

Conclusions:

• Falling is common, under-reported, and under-diagnosed in MS patients.
• Multimodal fall screening, both in-clinic and remotely, is recommended to identify high-risk individuals.
• Timely intervention and referral to specialized physical rehabilitation can improve patient care.