rss
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009;80:88-90 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.147793
  • Short report

Mobility and falls in people with Huntington’s disease

  1. M E Busse1,
  2. C M Wiles2,
  3. A E Rosser2,3,4
  1. 1
    Department of Physiotherapy, School of Healthcare Studies, Cardiff University, Ty Dewi Sant, Heath Park, UK
  2. 2
    Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
  3. 3
    Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
  4. 4
    Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK
  1. Dr M Busse, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Healthcare Studies, Cardiff University, Ty Dewi Sant, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; busseme{at}cardiff.ac.uk
  • Received 25 February 2008
  • Revised 2 June 2008
  • Accepted 5 June 2008

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of falls in people with Huntington’s disease (HD) and make a preliminary assessment of tools appropriate for assessing the risk of falling.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Hospital clinic.

Subjects: 24 people with HD.

Main measures: Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed “Up & Go” (TUG) test. Walking speed over 10 m was recorded. Long-term monitoring of walking activity was undertaken. Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor, Functional Assessment Scale (FAS), Independence Scale (IS) and Total Functional Capacity (TFC) scores were obtained as well as data about falls and stumbles. Differences between “recurrent fallers” (≥2 falls/year) and “non-fallers” (≤1 fall/year) for the range of outcome measures were investigated and probabilities calculated.

Results: Mean (SD) age (years) of people with HD (n = 24) tested was 56.6 (11.7) and BMI (kg/m2) 24.7 (5.5). Median (range) UHDRS motor scores were 48 (28–80). Ten (41.6%) patients reported ≤1 fall and 14 (58.3%) ≥2 falls in the previous 12 months. Recurrent fallers walked less (p<0.01) and slower than non-fallers. Their balance (BBS) (p<0.01) was worse and TUG scores were higher (p<0.01). People with HD had increased risk of falls if TUG scores were ≥14 s or BBS scores ≤40.

Conclusion: A high proportion of HD patients have recurrent falls, and the BBS and TUG appear to be useful in falls risk assessment.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval was provided by the South East Wales Local Research Ethics Committee.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.

BMJ Careers - Latest neurology and neurosurgery jobs