Risk factors associated with accidental falls among Italian nursing home residents: A longitudinal study (FRAILS)

Abstract

Older adults living in nursing homes (NHs) are at greater risk of injury resulting from a fall due to multiple factors, such as functional/cognitive impairment, postural instability, polytherapy, and psychotropic drugs. We aimed to assess characteristics of fallers, and investigate risk factors associated with falls among older NHs residents, through one-year longitudinal study. Demographic and clinical characteristics, number/typology of drugs, and fall occurrence were collected for each resident. We recruited 409 residents (82% women; 83 ± 9.4 years) in geriatric units (331, 81%) and in specialized dementia units (SDUs, 78%). 111 residents fell (27%), and 54 (48.6%) of them had an injury related to a fall. We detected an average of 1.3 falls (±0.48, range 1-10) per resident. Higher autonomy in activities of daily living, living in SDUs, and previous falls were significantly associated with falls. Thus, these findings should be considered as an alert to subsequent falls.

Keywords: Accidental falls; Dementia; Nursing home; Older adults; Risk factors.