Prevalence and risk factors of falls among older adults with Parkinson's disease in a Malaysian tertiary centre.

BACKGROUND

Falls are a major source of morbidity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and contribute substantially to fractures, disability, and reduced quality of life. Although both motor and non-motor factors contribute to fall risk, data from Southeast Asian populations remain limited.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of falls and identify clinical factors associated with falls among older adults with Parkinson’s disease attending a tertiary hospital falls clinic in Malaysia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included older adults with Parkinson’s disease attending a tertiary falls clinic. Participants were classified as fallers if they reported at least one fall within the preceding 12 months. Clinical assessments included demographic characteristics, disease severity, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, orthostatic blood pressure measurements, functional mobility, and frailty-related parameters including body mass index (BMI). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with falls.

RESULTS

Falls were reported by 67% of participants with Parkinson’s disease. In multivariable analysis, depressive symptoms, orthostatic hypotension, and lower BMI were independently associated with falls.

CONCLUSION

Falls were highly prevalent among older Malaysian adults with Parkinson’s disease. Non-motor features, including depressive symptoms and autonomic dysfunction, together with markers of physiological vulnerability such as low BMI, were independently associated with falls. Recognition of these potentially modifiable factors may inform targeted fall prevention strategies in Parkinson’s disease.