TY - JOUR
T1 - Falls, fractures and bone density in Parkinson’s disease–a cross-sectional study
AU - Tassorelli, Cristina
AU - Berlangieri, Mariangela
AU - Buscone, Simona
AU - Bolla, Monica
AU - De Icco, Roberto
AU - Baricich, Alessio
AU - Pacchetti, Claudio
AU - Cisari, Carlo
AU - Sandrini, Giorgio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2017/4/3
Y1 - 2017/4/3
N2 - Aim: Evidence suggests that falls and associated bone fractures are more frequent in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) than in the general population. In this cross-sectional study we evaluated the clinical and biochemical characteristics that are associated to falls, fractures and bone health in a population of PD subjects. Materials and methods: Forty-two consecutive subjects suffering from idiopathic PD (mild-to-moderate severity) with/without falls in the previous year were included. They were characterized as regards functional independence, balance, fear of falling, bone density (ultrasound densitometry) and plasma levels of vitamin D. Twenty-one age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were evaluated as controls. Results: We detected a greater degree of osteoporosis in PD subjects as compared to controls, more pronounced in males than in females (Z-score: M −3.8 ± 1.6, F −2.28 ± 0.92, p = 0.0006). A positive correlation was found between independence levels and bone density or vitamin D levels. Twenty seven patients (64%) reported falls in the previous year. These were associated to post-traumatic fractures in 16 subjects (59% of fallers). Women fell more than men (fallers: 20 F/7 M; non fallers: 4 F/11 M, χ² test p = 0.02), although the occurrence of post-traumatic fractures among fallers did not differ between sexes (F 11/9, M 5/2, χ² test p > 0.05). Fallers with post-traumatic fractures showed higher degrees of motor impairment. Conclusions: These findings confirm that falls and osteoporosis represent major health issues in PD, already in the middle stages of disease.
AB - Aim: Evidence suggests that falls and associated bone fractures are more frequent in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) than in the general population. In this cross-sectional study we evaluated the clinical and biochemical characteristics that are associated to falls, fractures and bone health in a population of PD subjects. Materials and methods: Forty-two consecutive subjects suffering from idiopathic PD (mild-to-moderate severity) with/without falls in the previous year were included. They were characterized as regards functional independence, balance, fear of falling, bone density (ultrasound densitometry) and plasma levels of vitamin D. Twenty-one age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were evaluated as controls. Results: We detected a greater degree of osteoporosis in PD subjects as compared to controls, more pronounced in males than in females (Z-score: M −3.8 ± 1.6, F −2.28 ± 0.92, p = 0.0006). A positive correlation was found between independence levels and bone density or vitamin D levels. Twenty seven patients (64%) reported falls in the previous year. These were associated to post-traumatic fractures in 16 subjects (59% of fallers). Women fell more than men (fallers: 20 F/7 M; non fallers: 4 F/11 M, χ² test p = 0.02), although the occurrence of post-traumatic fractures among fallers did not differ between sexes (F 11/9, M 5/2, χ² test p > 0.05). Fallers with post-traumatic fractures showed higher degrees of motor impairment. Conclusions: These findings confirm that falls and osteoporosis represent major health issues in PD, already in the middle stages of disease.
KW - balance
KW - bone density
KW - falls
KW - functional independence
KW - gender
KW - traumatic fractures
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84978958375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00207454.2016.1206897
DO - 10.1080/00207454.2016.1206897
M3 - Article
SN - 0020-7454
VL - 127
SP - 299
EP - 304
JO - International Journal of Neuroscience
JF - International Journal of Neuroscience
IS - 4
ER -