A nationwide update on prevalence of falls, injurious falls, concerns about falling, and fall prevention in persons with multiple sclerosis

Libak Abou; Chloe McCloskey; Cory Wernimont; Nora E Fritz; Anna L Kratz

doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000002454

A nationwide update on prevalence of falls, injurious falls, concerns about falling, and fall prevention in persons with multiple sclerosis

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Mar 1. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002454. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Libak Abou¹, Chloe McCloskey², Cory Wernimont¹, Nora E Fritz³, Anna L Kratz¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaiser Permanente Health System, Redwood City, CA, USA.
³ Departments of Health Care Sciences & Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.

PMID: 38466198
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002454

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the current nationwide prevalence of falls, injurious falls, concerns about falling, and information on fall prevention among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Design: This is a cross-sectional national web-based survey that included 965 adult PwMS. Participants self-reported falls and injurious falls experienced in the past 6 months. Participants also provided information on their concerns about falling and information on fall prevention received.

Results: A total of 56% reported falling in the past 6 months. The prevalence of falls at the population level ranges between 53% and 59%. Most falls occur inside of participants' homes (68%). About 30% of fallers reported an injurious fall. Most respondents, 87% expressed being concerned about falling and 68% reported they had cut down on activities due to their concerns about falling. Among participants who received information about falling (64%), only 9% received a formal fall prevention course.

Conclusion: Despite advances in falls research over the last decades, falling continues to be a highly prevalent problem for PwMS. About one-third of those falls result in injuries. Concerns about falling among fallers and non-fallers affect the performance of daily activities and independence. Few people receive a formal falls prevention education or training.