Geriatric comorbidities, such as falls, confer an independent mortality risk to elderly dialysis patients

Background. As the number of patients aged >= 65 years starting haemodialysis (HD) continues to increase, more patients are at risk of falls, functional decline and cognitive impairment. In an earlier prospective cohort study, we showed that 44% of elderly HD patients had more than one fall within a 1-year period. The objective of this study was to assess whether falls remained predictive of increased mortality risk even after controlling for age, comorbidity, dialysis vintage and laboratory variables. Methods. Using a prospective, cohort study design, patients aged >= 65 years and on chronic HD during the period April 2002-2003 were recruited. Patients were followed biweekly, and falls occurring within the first year were recorded. Outcome data were collected until death, study end (30 December 2006), transplantation or transfer to another dialysis centre. Results. A total of 162 patients were followed for a median of 32.7 months (quartiles 14-57). In a univariate Cox model with a time-dependent variable for falls status, survival was worse amongst fallers compared to non-fallers (HR 2.13, 95 CI 1.32-3.45; P = 0.002). After adjustment for age, dialysis vintage, comorbidity and laboratory variables, falls were a significant predictor of mortality (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.07-2.98, P = 0.03). Exclusion of falls associated with concurrent illnesses did not alter the results (HR 1.63, CI 1.02-2.28 P = 0.05). Conclusions. We conclude that the occurrence of more than one accidental fall in a community-dwelling HD patient aged >= 65 years is associated with an independent increased risk of death. As fall interventions are effective, screening HD patients for falls may be a simple measure of clinical importance.