Objective: Our aim was to assess the effects of falls in PD patients on HrQoL in PD patients.

Background: Health related quality of life (HrQoL) of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients has predictive value in disease progression and outcome. With socio-demographic, cultural and clinical differences, there is need to explore the effects of falls in PD patients and HrQoL in Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 81 PD patients at the University College Hospital, Oyo State, Nigeria. HrQoL was assessed using the PD Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Patients were interviewed for frequency of falls and risk factors for falls were assessed using Tinetti gait and balance test, Hoehn and Yahr severity scale, Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale, Timed Up and Go tests and modified Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI’D.

Results: 57 (70.4%) males and 24 (29.6%) females with a mean age of 65.6 (SD = 9.7) years. There was no significant difference in age between non-fallers and fallers. Fallers were noticed to have longer duration of PD (p= 0.012), poorer cognition (p=0.017), worse UPDRS (p=0.000) Hoehn and Yahr (p=0.000), Tinetti scores (p=0.000) when compared to non- fallers. All domains of the PDQ-8 except bodily discomfort and relationship were significantly lower among fallers. After controlling for potential confounding factors, there was no significant difference in the total PDQ-8 score between fallers and non-fallers.

Conclusions: Falls in the presence of variables worsen HrQoL but not independently. A holistic approach is required to improve HrQoL of PD patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/falls-in-parkinsons-disease-effects-on-health-related-quality-of-life/