Journal
CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS IN AGING
Volume 11, Issue -, Pages 1253-1261Publisher
DOVE MEDICAL PRESS LTD
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S115755
Keywords
falls; geriatric inpatients; comprehensive geriatric assessment; delirium; body mass index
Categories
Funding
- Medical University of Silesia [KNW-1-029/K/4/0, KNW-2/035/D/4/N]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Inpatient geriatric falls are a frequent complication of hospital care that results in significant morbidity and mortality. Objective: Evaluate factors associated with falls in geriatric inpatients after implementation of the fall prevention program. Methods: Prospective observational study comprised of 788 consecutive patients aged 79.5 +/- 7.6 years ((X) over bar +/- standard deviation) (66% women and 34% men) admitted to the subacute geriatric ward. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (including Mini-Mental State Examination, Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living, and modified Get-up and Go Test) was performed. Confusion Assessment Method was used for diagnosis of delirium. Patients were categorized into low, moderate, or high fall risk groups after clinical and functional assessment. Results: About 15.9%, 21.1%, and 63.1% of participants were classified into low, moderate, and high fall risk groups, respectively. Twenty-seven falls were recorded in 26 patients. Increased fall probability was associated with age >= 76 years (P<0.001), body mass index (BMI) <23.5 (P=0.007), Mini-Mental State Examination <20 (P=0.004), Barthel Index <65 (P=0.002), hemoglobin <7.69 mmol/L (P=0.017), serum protein <70 g/L (P=0.008), albumin <32 g/L (P=0.001), and calcium level <2.27 mmol/L. Four independent factors associated with fall risk were included in the multivariate logistic regression model: delirium (odds ratio [OR] =7.33; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] =2.76-19.49; P<0.001), history of falls (OR =2.55; 95% CI =1.05-6.19; P=0.039), age (OR =1.14; 95% CI =1.05-1.23; P=0.001), and BMI (OR =0.91; 95% CI =0.83-0.99; P=0.034). Conclusion: Delirium, history of falls, and advanced age seem to be the primary risk factors for geriatric falls in the context of a hospital fall prevention program. Higher BMI appears to be associated with protection against inpatient geriatric falls.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available