Incidence and Risk Factors of Recurrent Falls in the Elderly Visiting the Emergency Department after a Fall
10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.6.554
- Author:
Ri Na JEONG
1
;
Ja Hyun HO
;
Youn Yong CHUNG
;
Ki Hyun PARK
;
Jung A KIM
;
Moo Young KIM
;
Eun Mi HAM
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. moowija@seoulmc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Accidental Falls;
Housing for the Elderly;
Recurrence;
Risk Factors
- MeSH:
Accidental Falls;
Adult;
Aged;
Emergencies;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Follow-Up Studies;
Housing for the Elderly;
Humans;
Incidence;
Logistic Models;
Medical Records;
Prevalence;
Recurrence;
Risk Factors;
Seoul;
Telephone
- From:
Korean Journal of Family Practice
2019;9(6):554-559
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Several studies have evaluated risk factors for falls; however, the risk factors for recurrent falls are poorly understood. Therefore, this study evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with recurrent falls.METHODS: This study included 250 patients aged over 65 years, all of whom visited the emergency department (ED) at Seoul Medical Center following a fall from January 2016 to December 2017. We reviewed the patients' medical records for demographic data and medical history. Previous fall history, use of gait-aids, residence type, and fall recurrence were assessed via individual telephone calls.RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 21.6% (n=54) of the 250 subjects experienced recurrent falls. Logistic regression analyses showed that fall recurrence was significantly associated with a previous fall history and the residence type. Subjects who lived in basement-level residences had a significantly higher risk of fall recurrence compared to those who lived in ground-level residences (odds ratio, 8.910; 95% confidence interval, 1.082–73.366).CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high incidence of fall recurrence in older adults who visited the ED due to falls. Our results suggest that careful evaluation and intervention are essential, especially in elderly individuals with fall histories and those who live in residences associated with ncreased risk of falls.
