OBJECTIVE: To identify risk indicators for, and incidence of, recurrent falls and fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with traumatic spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Prospective multi-centre study. SUBJECTS: One hundred and forty-nine wheelchair users with spinal cord injury attending follow-up in Sweden and Norway. METHODS: Inclusion criteria: wheelchair users ≥ 18 years old with traumatic spinal cord injury ≥ 1 year post-injury. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: individuals with motor complete injuries above C5. Falls were prospectively reported by text message every second week for one year and were followed-up by telephone interviews. Outcomes were: fall incidence, risk indicators for recurrent (> 2) falls and fall-related injuries. Independent variables were: demographic data, quality of life, risk willingness, functional independence, and exercise habits. RESULTS: Of the total sample (n = 149), 96 (64%) participants fell, 45 (32%) fell recurrently, 50 (34%) were injured, and 7 (5%) severely injured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that reporting recurrent falls the previous year increased the odds ratio (OR) of recurrent falls (OR 10.2, p < 0.001). Higher quality of life reduced the OR of fall-related injuries (OR 0.86, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Previous recurrent falls was a strong predictor of future falls. The incidence of falls, recurrent falls and fall-related injuries was high. Hence, prevention of falls and fall-related injuries is important.
OBJECTIVE: To identify risk indicators for, and incidence of, recurrent falls and fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with traumatic spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Prospective multi-centre study. SUBJECTS: One hundred and forty-nine wheelchair users with spinal cord injury attending follow-up in Sweden and Norway. METHODS: Inclusion criteria: wheelchair users ≥ 18 years old with traumatic spinal cord injury ≥ 1 year post-injury. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: individuals with motor complete injuries above C5. Falls were prospectively reported by text message every second week for one year and were followed-up by telephone interviews. Outcomes were: fall incidence, risk indicators for recurrent (> 2) falls and fall-related injuries. Independent variables were: demographic data, quality of life, risk willingness, functional independence, and exercise habits. RESULTS: Of the total sample (n = 149), 96 (64%) participants fell, 45 (32%) fell recurrently, 50 (34%) were injured, and 7 (5%) severely injured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that reporting recurrent falls the previous year increased the odds ratio (OR) of recurrent falls (OR 10.2, p < 0.001). Higher quality of life reduced the OR of fall-related injuries (OR 0.86, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Previous recurrent falls was a strong predictor of future falls. The incidence of falls, recurrent falls and fall-related injuries was high. Hence, prevention of falls and fall-related injuries is important.
Authors: Alia Khan; Clara Pujol; Mark Laylor; Nikola Unic; Maureen Pakosh; Jaclyn Dawe; Kristin E Musselman Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2019-04-09 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Laura A Rice; Jong Hun Sung; Kathleen Keane; Elizabeth Peterson; Jacob J Sosnoff Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2019-07-25 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Maria Auxiliadora Marquez; Rita De Santis; Viviana Ammendola; Martina Antonacci; Valter Santilli; Anna Berardi; Donatella Valente; Giovanni Galeoto Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2018-02-15 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: I Axén; I Jensen; E Butler Forslund; B Grahn; V Jørgensen; C H Opava; L Bodin Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2020-05-19 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Hardeep Singh; Carol Y Scovil; Karen Yoshida; Sarah Oosman; Anita Kaiser; Catharine Craven; Susan Jaglal; Kristin E Musselman Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-02-25 Impact factor: 2.692