Seyed Amir Hassan Habibi - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Soroush Rahmani - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sepideh Goudarzi - Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Rohani - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Gholamali Shahidi - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Behnood Farazmand - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fereshteh Vosough - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farnaz Vosough - Dept. of Neurology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farhad Modara - Dept. of Neurology, Mostafa Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
Fatemeh Mahdizadeh - Neuromuscular Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Background and Objective: Freezing of gait (FOG) is accompanied by various complications, reduced quality of life, and increased risk of mortality and morbidity in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The incidence of this disabling phenomenon can be predicted in at least one-third of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of FOG among Iranian patients with Parkinson’s disease and to determine the predictors of this phenomenon in these patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۱۳۵ patients with Parkinson’s disease, referred to Rasoul Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The subjects were selected using the convenience sampling method. FOG was confirmed via clinical examination by two fellows of the movement disorder fellowship program. Variables were evaluated using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, and measurement of the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results: Out of ۱۳۵ patients with Parkinson’s disease, ۳۶ (۲۶.۷%) had FOG. Based on the results, FOG had a significantly higher prevalence in older patients, compared to younger patients. According to the results, FOG had no significant relationship with other baseline variables, including gender, disease duration, and disease manifestations. According to the multivariate logistic regression model, advanced age (OR: ۰.۹۱۵; P=۰.۰۳۱) and longer disease duration (OR: ۰.۹۹۲; P=۰.۰۱۹) predicted the incidence of FOG in the presence of underlying factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of FOG among patients with Parkinson’s disease was estimated at ۲۶.۷%, which is within the global range. The results revealed that age and duration of disease were two factors, which could predict the occurrence of FOG with high sensitivity and specificity.

Determinants, Freezing of Gait, Parkinson's disease, Prevalence, Risk Factors