Prospective Assessment Of Falls Among People With Multiple Sclerosis And Healthy Matched Controls (P3.054)

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk for recurrent falls among people with multiple sclerosis with the risk among healthy age and sex matched controls. BACKGROUND: Several studies have found a high prevalence of falls in people with MS (PwMS). Slowed walking may also contribute to fall risk. Retrospective evaluation of falls coded in the medical record suggests that falls are more common in PwMS than in women without MS but no published reports have compared prospectively counted falls in PwMS with the risk in healthy age and sex matched controls, adjusting for the effects of walking speed. DESIGN/METHODS: After completing the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the Timed 25 Foot Walk Test (T25FWT), 58 PwMS and 58 age-sex matched controls prospectively counted their falls daily for 6 months using fall calendars. Multivariate logistic regression, including TUG and T25WT times in the model, was used to compare the risk for recurrent falls (>1 fall) between PwMS and controls. RESULTS: 54 of 58 PwMS and 56 of 58 controls completed all assessments and are included in this analysis. Their mean age was 39.2 years (MS) and 39.7 years (controls) and the median EDSS for those with MS was 3 (0-6). 17.8% of controls and 48.1% of PwMS recorded >1 fall during the following 6 month. PwMS had significantly longer TUG (9.3 sec +/- 0.7sec vs 7.2sec +/- 0.2sec, p=0.0002) and T25WT (5.6sec +/- 0.5sec vs 4.1sec+/- 0.1sec, p<0.0001) times than age and sex matched controls. After adjusting for TUG and T25WT times, PwMS had 6.8 (95% CI: 2.6-17.8, p <0.0001) times the odds of experiencing recurrent falls compared to age-sex matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of walking speed, PwMS are at increased risk for falls compared to healthy age and sex matched controls. Study Supported by: CDA-2 from the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research Development Service. Disclosure: Dr. Mazumder has received research support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the 2012 Foundation of the Consortium of MS Centers Workforce of the Future. Dr. Murchison has received research support from National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Dr. Cameron has received personal compensation for activities with Acorda Therapeutics, and the MS Association of America. Dr. Cameron has received research support from Acorda Therapeutics, and the VA Rehabilitation Research Development Service.