FALLS-RHEUM: Falls Risk Prediction in Elderly Rheumatic Disease Patients Using 10-Domain Weighted Score
We describe a 10-domain weighted falls risk score for elderly patients with rheumatic diseases, incorporating glucocorticoid-induced myopathy, joint instability, polypharmacy, visual impairment, neuropathy, balance/gait assessment, cognitive function, environmental hazards, prior falls, and disease-specific factors. Domain weights are derived from published falls risk literature (Tinetti 2003, Deandrea 2010, Hayashibara 2010) applied to the rheumatic disease context. The score has not been validated in a rheumatology cohort.
FALLS-RHEUM
10 Domains
- Glucocorticoid myopathy (dose/duration-based)
- Joint instability (DIP/knee/ankle involvement)
- Polypharmacy (>5 meds, specific high-risk drugs)
- Visual impairment (HCQ retinopathy, Sjogren dry eye)
- Neuropathy (vasculitis, compression)
- Balance/gait (TUG, chair stand)
- Cognitive function (GDS-15, MoCA)
- Environmental hazards (home assessment)
- Prior falls (last 12 months)
- Disease-specific (active synovitis, Raynaud, fatigue)
# Core calculation
def falls_risk(domains):
weights = [0.15, 0.12, 0.12, 0.08, 0.08, 0.12, 0.08, 0.07, 0.10, 0.08]
return sum(d * w for d, w in zip(domains, weights)) * 100Limitations
- Not validated in a clinical cohort
- Weights from literature synthesis, not regression
- Requires further testing
References
- Tinetti ME. N Engl J Med 2003;348:42-9
- Deandrea S et al. Epidemiology 2010;21:658-68
- Hayashibara M et al. Mod Rheumatol 2010;20:143-7
Authors
Zamora-Tehozol EA (ORCID:0000-0002-7888-3961), DNAI
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