American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 133, No. 11: 1179-1190
Copyright © 1991 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
research-article |
Risk Factors Associated with Falls and Injuries among Elderly Institutionalized Persons
1Department of Health Policy and Management, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, MD
2Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, MD
3Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, MD
Reprint requests to Dr. Ann H. Myers, Injury Prevention Center, The Johns Hopkins university School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205.
A case-control study among 184 matched pairs of patients 65 years of age and older was undertaken to identify risk factors associated with falls and injuries in a long-term care facility in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1984-1985. Patients were matched on length of stay. Variables of interest included sociodemography, functional status, medications, and diagnoses. For all levels of care combined, the following factors were associated (p 
0.01) with increased falls: being able to walk (relative odds (RO) = 4.0), age 90 years and older (RO = 3.8), a history of falling (RO = 5.0), and taking a vasdilator (RO = 3.0). Among the 184 fallers, the diagnosis of dementia (RO = 7.5) or taking a diuretic (RO = 7.2) was positively assodated with injury (p 0.01). In each of the analyses, medications were associated with falls or injuries, suggesting a feasible intervention. The combination of a history of falling, being able to walk, and being 90 years of age or older increased the relative odds to 51.9 and could alert clinicians to identify and monitor high-risk elderly persons in need of preventive measures.
accidental falls; aged; fractures; long term care; nuring homes; risk factors; wounds and injuries
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. C.T. Close Falls in Older People: Risk Factors, Assessment and Intervention IBMS BoneKEy, October 1, 2009; 6(10): 368 - 384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. A. Stelmack, X. C. Tang, D. J. Reda, S. Rinne, R. M. Mancil, R. W. Massof, and for the LOVIT Study Group Outcomes of the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT) Arch Ophthalmol, May 1, 2008; 126(5): 608 - 617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y. Netz, S. Axelrad, and E. Argov Group physical activity for demented older adults feasibility and effectiveness Clinical Rehabilitation, November 1, 2007; 21(11): 977 - 986. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C Armstrong, C M Swarbrick, S R Pye, and T W O'Neill Occurrence and risk factors for falls in rheumatoid arthritis Ann Rheum Dis, November 1, 2005; 64(11): 1602 - 1604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. S. Maurer, J. Burcham, and H. Cheng Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Falls in Elderly Residents of a Long-Term Care Facility J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., September 1, 2005; 60(9): 1157 - 1162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. L Lewis, M. Moutoux, M. Slaughter, and S. P Bailey Characteristics of Individuals Who Fell While Receiving Home Health Services Physical Therapy, January 1, 2004; 84(1): 23 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Kron, S. Loy, E. Sturm, Th. Nikolaus, and C. Becker Risk Indicators for Falls in Institutionalized Frail Elderly Am. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2003; 158(7): 645 - 653. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M. Rothschild, D. W. Bates, and L. L. Leape Preventable Medical Injuries in Older Patients Arch Intern Med, October 9, 2000; 160(18): 2717 - 2728. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Whooley, K. E. Kip, J. A. Cauley, K. E. Ensrud, M. C. Nevitt, W. S. Browner, and for the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research G Depression, Falls, and Risk of Fracture in Older Women Arch Intern Med, March 8, 1999; 159(5): 484 - 490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. B. Thapa, P. Gideon, T. W. Cost, A. B. Milam, and W. A. Ray Antidepressants and the Risk of Falls among Nursing Home Residents N. Engl. J. Med., September 24, 1998; 339(13): 875 - 882. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Z. Zimmer and A. Myers Receptivity to Protective Garments among the Elderly J Aging Health, August 1, 1997; 9(3): 355 - 372. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J.A. Tutuarima, J.H.P. van der Meulen, R.J. de Haan, A. van Straten, and M. Limburg Risk Factors for Falls of Hospitalized Stroke Patients Stroke, February 1, 1997; 28(2): 297 - 301. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 O.-P. Ryynanen, S.-L. Kivela, R. Honkanen, P. Laippala, and V. Saano Medications and Chronic Diseases as Risk Factors for Falling Injuries in the Elderly Scand J Public Health, December 1, 1993; 21(4): 264 - 271. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Klopfer, J. M. Tielsch, S. Vitale, L.-C. See, and J. K. Canner Ocular Trauma in the United States: Eye Injuries Resulting in Hospitalization, 1984 Through 1987 Arch Ophthalmol, June 1, 1992; 110(6): 838 - 842. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|