Previously submitted to: JMIR Medical Informatics (no longer under consideration since Apr 21, 2021)
Date Submitted: Mar 22, 2021
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The risk factors of recurrent falls among inpatients: A retrospective study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Recurrent falls are more likely to cause injuries and disabilities than single falls.
Objective:
This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of recurrent falls among inpatients.
Methods:
Adopting a retrospective research design, we collected and analyzed inpatient fall data from the anomaly event notification database of a teaching hospital in Taiwan in coordination with electronic medical records in the four years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019.
Results:
We collected data from 1,059 inpatients. Among these inpatients were 390 recurrent-fall inpatients (36.83%) who had a fallen more than once. After controlling the other variables, we found that inpatients in the orthopedics and neurology wards were at higher risk of recurrent falls within a year than those in surgical wards (OR=2.44, p< .001; OR=1.93, p= .002); inpatients who were completely physically dependent on others or required assistance before their falls were at higher risk of recurrent falls within a year than those who were physically independent (OR = 2.10, p= .014; OR=1.57, p= .015); inpatients with self-perceived poor vision were at lower risk of recurrent falls within a year than those without this issue (OR=0.61, p< .001), and inpatients who were using antidepressants were at higher risk of recurrent falls within a year than those who were not using antidepressants (OR=1.44, p= .042).
Conclusions:
There are multiple aspects to the factors of recurrent falls among inpatients within a year and that the risk of recurrent falls is highly correlated with ward type (orthopedics and neurology), physical independence (completely dependent or requiring assistance), no poor vision, and use of antidepressants. Clinical Trial: NA
Citation
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