Predictors of freezing of gait in Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical predictors of freezing of gait (FOG) in Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: This study included 225 patients with PD who completed a three‐year follow‐up visit. The end‐point was the presence of FOG (freezers), which was assessed during the follow‐up visit. Group comparisons were conducted, followed by a further forward binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Eighty‐five patients with PD (38%) had developed FOG at the end of study. At baseline, freezers exhibited higher age, longer disease duration, higher scores in Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) III and Hamilton Depression/Anxiety Rating Scale, lower Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) score, higher subscores (e.g., “urgency”) and frequencies (e.g., “hallucinations”) in Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale, higher annual changes in MoCA, UPDRS III and FAB scores, and higher incidences of festination and falls than nonfreezers (p < .05). The forward binary logistic regression model indicated that a longer disease duration, a higher UPDRS III score, higher annual changes in UPDRS III score and “visuospatial/executive abilities” subscore, onset in lower limbs, and the presence of festination, falls, and hallucinations were associated with the development of FOG. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with onset in the lower limbs and the presence of festination, falls, and hallucinations may be prone to develop FOG episodes. FOG also likely occurs with the deterioration of PD severity and visuospatial function.