OBJECTIVE: Falls in older people are a common presenting complaint. Knowledge of modifiable risk factors may lead to a more tailored approach to prevent recurrent falls and/or fractures. We investigated prevalence of 8 modifiable risk factors for recurrent falling and/or a serious consequence of the fall among older patients visiting the emergency department after a fall with the Combined Amsterdam and Rotterdam Evaluation of Falls Triage Instrument (CTI), a self-administrated questionnaire that consists of questions concerning demographics, possible cause(s) of the fall, and questions relating to (modifiable) risk factors for falling. METHODS: After treatment for their injuries, 1077 consecutive patients 65 years or older visiting the accident and emergency department due to a fall were evaluated by the CTI. The following were assessed: impaired vision, mobility disorder, fear of falling, mood disorder, high risk of osteoporosis, orthostatic hypotension, incontinence, and polypharmacy. RESULTS: The percentage of respondents who returned the questionnaire was 59.3%. The mean (SD) age was 78.5 (7.5) years, and 57.8% experienced a fall with serious consequences. There were 60.9% of patients with a recurrent fall versus 51% with a first fall who experienced with a serious consequence (P = .025). Age and risk factors mobility disorder (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-3.3), high risk of osteoporosis (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.2), incontinence (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.7), fear of falling (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7), and orthostatic hypotension (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.2) were independently associated with a recurrent fall. Age and high risk of osteoporosis were the only risk factors predicting a serious consequence of a fall (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.9-7.2). CONCLUSIONS: Age and 5 modifiable risk factors assessed with the CTI were independently associated with a recurrent fall. Only high risk of osteoporosis was associated with a serious consequence.
OBJECTIVE: Falls in older people are a common presenting complaint. Knowledge of modifiable risk factors may lead to a more tailored approach to prevent recurrent falls and/or fractures. We investigated prevalence of 8 modifiable risk factors for recurrent falling and/or a serious consequence of the fall among older patients visiting the emergency department after a fall with the Combined Amsterdam and Rotterdam Evaluation of Falls Triage Instrument (CTI), a self-administrated questionnaire that consists of questions concerning demographics, possible cause(s) of the fall, and questions relating to (modifiable) risk factors for falling. METHODS: After treatment for their injuries, 1077 consecutive patients 65 years or older visiting the accident and emergency department due to a fall were evaluated by the CTI. The following were assessed: impaired vision, mobility disorder, fear of falling, mood disorder, high risk of osteoporosis, orthostatic hypotension, incontinence, and polypharmacy. RESULTS: The percentage of respondents who returned the questionnaire was 59.3%. The mean (SD) age was 78.5 (7.5) years, and 57.8% experienced a fall with serious consequences. There were 60.9% of patients with a recurrent fall versus 51% with a first fall who experienced with a serious consequence (P = .025). Age and risk factors mobility disorder (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-3.3), high risk of osteoporosis (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.2), incontinence (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.7), fear of falling (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7), and orthostatic hypotension (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.2) were independently associated with a recurrent fall. Age and high risk of osteoporosis were the only risk factors predicting a serious consequence of a fall (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.9-7.2). CONCLUSIONS: Age and 5 modifiable risk factors assessed with the CTI were independently associated with a recurrent fall. Only high risk of osteoporosis was associated with a serious consequence.
Authors: Marjan Askari; Saied Eslami; Alice C Scheffer; Stephanie Medlock; Sophia E de Rooij; Nathalie van der Velde; Ameen Abu-Hanna Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2013-10 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Alycia Cleinman; Michael E Griswold; Eleanor M Simonsick; W Mark Meeks; Katharine T Gregg; Luigi Ferrucci; B Gwen Windham Journal: Jacobs J Gerontol Date: 2017-05-23
Authors: M Askari; S Eslami; M van Rijn; S Medlock; E P Moll van Charante; N van der Velde; S E de Rooij; A Abu-Hanna Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2015-07-21 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: Sue Jordan; Timothy Banner; Marie Gabe-Walters; Jane M Mikhail; Jeff Round; Sherrill Snelgrove; Mel Storey; Douglas Wilson; David Hughes Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-09-28 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Alice C Scheffer; Pieter Boele van Hensbroek; Nynke van Dijk; Jan S K Luitse; Johannes C Goslings; René H Luigies; Sophia E de Rooij Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2013-07-26 Impact factor: 2.655