RESEARCH - Occurrence and risk factors for falls in rheumatoid arthritis

March 2, 2006

ls of the Rheumatic Diseases

2005; 64:1602-1604

" Occurrence and risk factors for falls in rheumatoid arthritis " :

Objectives: To determine the one year period prevalence of falls by age and

sex in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the influence of concurrent

medical treatment and disability on the occurrence of falls in this group.

Methods: A consecutive series of rheumatoid patients aged 35 years and over,

attending hospital outpatient clinics at Hope hospital, Salford, were asked

to complete an interview assisted questionnaire which asked about the

occurrence and number of falls in the previous 12 months. Subjects who took

part were asked about current treatment with antihypertensive agents,

diuretics, sedatives or hypnotics, antidepressants, and a history of

previous hip/knee surgery. They also completed the health assessment

questionnaire (HAQ). Logistic regression was used to determine the

association between these variables and falls in the previous 12 months.

Results: 253 men and women, mean age 62 years, were studied, and 84 (33%)

reported falling in the previous year (36% of women and 26% of men). Of

these, 52% had fallen on more than one occasion. There was no important

increase in the frequency of falls with age. After adjusting for age and

sex, those who had fallen in the previous year were more likely to report

taking antidepressant treatment (odds ratio (OR) = 2.09) and to have

impairment in both walking (OR = 1.37) and rising (OR = 1.41). The HAQ score

was higher in those who reported a fall than those who did not, though the

difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: In this hospital based survey, one in three patients with

rheumatoid arthritis reported falling in the previous 12 months. Falls were

associated with self reported impairment in lower limb function.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

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