Disease-Related Outcomes Influence the Prevalence of Falls in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Fathy, Hossam Marouf; Mohamed, Al Zahraa Yehia; Abd-ElAzeem, Mervat Ismail

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2023.290617

Disease-Related Outcomes Influence the Prevalence of Falls in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2023.290617

Abstract

Background Adults who had Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more prone to falls. Falling in RA increases the risk of hip fracture as decreased bone mineral density is a prominent feature in RA
Objective: The aim of the current work was to assess the prevalence of falls and its association with different clinical conditions and different physical performance status. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 75 patients with RA, diagnosed according to 2010 American College of Rheumatology's Categorization Criteria, attending at Outpatient and Inpatient Clinics, Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Beni-Suef University Hospital. Participants were divided into non-fallers and fallers.
Results: The prevalence of falls among RA patients was 33.3%. Faller RA patients had significantly higher Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) as compared with non-fallers (p-values< 0.001). Faller RA patients had significantly lower Berg Balance Scale (BBS) as compared with non-fallers (p-value <0.001), Faller RA patients had significantly longer 5-Time Sit Down-To-Stand Up Test (SST5) and longer Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) as compared with non-fallers (p-values< 0.001).
Conclusion: It could be concluded that the prevalence rate of falls in RA patients is high, most of them are associated with disease-related outcomes primarily (CDAI) and (HAQ-DI). This makes these tools useful to assess the risk of falls in RA.

Keywords