scholarly journals How Accurate are Geriatricians’ Fall Predictions?

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Wilbur ◽  
Gerald Jogerst ◽  
Nicholas Butler ◽  
Yinghui Xu
Keyword(s):  
Fall Risk ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Routine Medical Care ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Individual Risk Factors

Abstract Background: Older patients are at increased risk of falling and of serious morbidity and mortality resulting from falls. The ability to accurately identify older patients at increased fall risk affords the opportunity to implement interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. Geriatricians are trained to assess older patients for fall risk. If geriatricians can accurately predict fallers (as opposed to evaluating for individual risk factors for falling), more aggressive and earlier interventions could be employed to reduce falls in older adult fallers. However, there is paucity of knowledge regarding the accuracy of geriatrician fall risk predictions. This study aims to determine the accuracy of geriatricians in predicting falls. Methods: Between October 2018 and November 2019, a convenience sample of 100 subjects was recruited from an academic geriatric clinic population seeking routine medical care. Subjects performed a series of gait and balance assessments, answered the Stay Independent Brochure and were surveyed about fall incidence 6-12 months after study entry. Five geriatricians, blinded to subjects and fall outcomes, were provided the subjects’ data and asked to categorize each as a faller or non-faller. No requirements were imposed on the geriatricians’ use of the available data. These predictions were compared to predictions of an examining geriatrician who performed the assessments and to fall outcomes reported by subjects. Results: Kappa values for the 5 geriatricians who used all the available data to classify participants as fallers or non-fallers compared with the examining geriatrician were 0.42 to 0.59, indicating moderate agreement. Compared to screening tools’ mean accuracy of 66.6% (59.6-73.0%), the 5 geriatricians had a mean accuracy for fall prediction of 67.4% (57.3-71.9%).Conclusions: This study adds to the scant knowledge available in the medical literature regarding the abilities of geriatricians to accurately predict falls in older patients. Studies are needed to characterize how geriatrician assessments of fall risk compare to standardized assessment tools.

scholarly journals Can Fall Risk Screening and Fall Prevention Advice in Hospital Settings Motivate Older Adult Patients to Take Action to Reduce Fall Risk?

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110040
Author(s):  
Lotte M. Barmentloo ◽  
Vicki Erasmus ◽  
Branko F. Olij ◽  
Juanita A. Haagsma ◽  
Johan P. Mackenbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fall Risk ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Preventive Action ◽  
Dutch Hospital ◽  
Risk Screening ◽  
Patients At Risk ◽  
Individual Risk Factors ◽  
Fall Risk Screening ◽  
Tailored Advice

Objective: We investigated whether an in-hospital intervention consisting of fall risk screening and tailored advice could prompt patients to take preventive action. Method: Patients (≥70) attending the emergency department and nephrology outpatient clinic in a Dutch hospital were screened. Patients at high risk received tailored advice based on their individual risk factors. Three months after screening, preventive steps taken by patients were surveyed. Results: Two hundred sixteen patients were screened. Of the 83 patients completing a 3-month follow-up, 51.8% took action; among patients who received tailored advice ( n = 20), 70% took action. Patients most often adhered to advice on improving muscle strength and undergoing vision checkups (20%). Tailored advice and a reported low quality of life were associated with consulting a health care provider. Discussion: Patients at risk in these settings are inclined to take action after screening. However, they do not always adhere to the tailored prevention advice.

scholarly journals Older trauma patients are at high risk of delirium, especially those with underlying dementia or baseline frailty

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000639
Author(s):  
Danielle Ní Chróinín ◽  
Nevenka Francis ◽  
Pearl Wong ◽  
Yewon David Kim ◽  
Susan Nham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Patients ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of

BackgroundGiven the increasing numbers of older patients presenting with trauma, and the potential influence of delirium on outcomes, we sought to investigate the proportion of such patients who were diagnosed with delirium during their stay—and patient factors associated therewith—and the potential associations between delirium and hospital length of stay (LOS). We hypothesized that delirium would be common, associated with certain patient characteristics, and associated with long hospital LOS (highest quartile).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of all trauma patients aged ≥65 years presenting in September to October 2019, interrogating medical records and the institutional trauma database. The primary outcome measure was occurrence of delirium.ResultsAmong 99 eligible patients, delirium was common, documented in 23% (23 of 99). On multivariable analysis, adjusting for age, frailty and history of dementia, frailty (OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.08 to 15.53, p=0.04) and dementia (OR 5.23, 95% CI 1.38 to 19.90, p=0.02) were independently associated with likelihood of delirium. Standardized assessment tools were underused, with only 34% (34 of 99) screened within 4 hours of arrival. On univariate logistic regression analysis, having an episode of delirium was associated with long LOS (highest quartile), OR of 5.29 (95% CI 1.92 to 14.56, p<0.001). In the final multivariable model, adjusting for any (non-delirium) in-hospital complication, delirium was independently associated with long LOS (≥16 days; OR 4.81, p=0.005).DiscussionIn this study, delirium was common. History of dementia and baseline frailty were associated with increased risk. Delirium was independently associated with long LOS. However, many patients did not undergo standardized screening at admission. Early identification and targeted management of older patients at risk of delirium may reduce incidence and improve care of this vulnerable cohort. These data are hypothesis generating, but support the need for initiatives which improve delirium care, acknowledging the complex interplay between frailty and other geriatric syndromes in the older trauma patients.Level of evidenceIII.

scholarly journals Effect of area-level factors on heat-associated morbidity and mortality in the Eastern Townships

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Vandal ◽  
M Garant ◽  
B Cossette ◽  
L Pinsonneault
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Effect Modification ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Vulnerability Factors ◽  
Ambulance Transports ◽  
Individual Risk Factors ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Background Multiple individual risk factors for morbidity and mortality during heat waves have previously been identified. Based on these, five categories of area-level indicators are used in Quebec, Canada, to identify geographical regions with presumed increased vulnerability: economic, social and biological vulnerability, housing characteristics and urban environment. However, we do not know which indicators correlate with an increase in morbidity and mortality during heat waves. This study evaluated, among 13 different area-level vulnerability factors from these five categories, which ones predict an effect modification of hot temperatures on morbidity and mortality. Methods For 2008 to 2018, we first explored the association between average daily temperature and four daily health indicators for the Eastern Townships region in Quebec: all-cause ambulance transports, all-cause emergency department (ED) visits, all-cause mortality and heat-related hospitalizations. We then used Poisson regression linear mixed models to investigate effect modification from the 13 area-level risk factors. Results Three vulnerability factors significantly caused positive effect modification between temperature and daily all-cause ambulance counts: the chronic diseases index, the percentage of people aged 65 years or older and the percentage of people aged 65 or older and living alone. For heat-related hospitalizations, four factors caused positive effect modification: the same three as for ambulance counts, plus the proportion of people that spend 30% or more household income on rent. For the ED-temperature association, only the percentage of people with low income caused positive effect modification. There was no significant association between temperature and daily mortality. Conclusions This study will help public health officials target preventive interventions to areas with the vulnerability factors that most strongly predict heat-related morbidity. Key messages Some, but not all, individual risk factors are useful at the area-level to predict areas with the strongest increases in morbidity associated with hot temperatures. The chronic diseases index and the percentage of people 65 and older living alone both accentuated the association between hot temperatures and ambulance transports or hospitalizations.

scholarly journals Relationship between falls and Fall Risk Increasing Drugs. A retrospective case control study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Tiwana ◽  
A Pietronigro ◽  
M Mosillo ◽  
N Principi ◽  
D Carnevali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background Falls and fall-related injuries are a major public health issue which needs global attention due to its clinical and socioeconomic impact. Inpatient falls are the most common adverse event in hospital. Important risk factors for falls are polypharmacy and the assumption of so-called Fall Risk Increasing Drugs (FRIDs). Aims of our study were to investigate the associations between falls and the use of medications among inpatients by conducting a retrospective case-control study in a rehabilitation hospital in Northern Italy in 2018. Methods Three unique control for each faller, matched by age, sex and hospitalization ward, were selected. A Conditional Logistic Regression was performed to analyze the impact that 13 types of FRIDs individually and the number of administrated FRIDs had on the risk of falling. A second regression model was obtained adjusting the case-control matching for CIRS, Morse and Barthel scores. Results We identified 148 cases and 444 controls. 3 types of FRIDs were significantly correlated (p &lt; 0,05) with an increased risk of falling: Antipsychotics [OR:1,98;CI 95%:1,01-3,89], Antidepressants [OR:2,18;CI 95%:1,32-3,59], Diuretics [OR:1,71;CI 95%:1,09-2,68]. Antidepressants were the only type of FRID significantly correlated (p = 0,008) even in the model adjusted for CIRS, Morse and Barthel scores [OR:2,00;CI 95%:1,20-3,34]. The unadjusted model showed that the addition of one type of FRID to therapy was significantly associated with the fall event (p &lt; 0.05) [OR:1.21;CI 95%: 1.05 - 1.40]. Conclusions Assumption of drugs and polypharmacy could play a role in hospital falling. Recently developed fall risk assessment tools suffer from low specificity and sensitivity and do not assess these risk factors. A holistic approach with a multidimensional evaluation of the patient through screening tools, functional assessment tools and a full medical evaluation should be improved. Key messages Drugs may represent an important variable in determining the risk of falls in hospitalized patients, but they should not be considered alone. Screening tools for fall risk should take into account polypharmacy such as other intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors within an holistic approach.

scholarly journals Infection-related morbidity and mortality among older patients with DLBCL treated with full- or attenuated-dose R-CHOP

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 2229-2236
Author(s):  
Toby A. Eyre ◽  
William Wilson ◽  
Amy A. Kirkwood ◽  
Julia Wolf ◽  
Catherine Hildyard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Patients ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
International Prognostic Index ◽  
Prognostic Index ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Infection-related morbidity and mortality are increased in older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) compared with population-matched controls. Key predictive factors for infection-related hospitalization during treatment with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) and deaths as a result of infection in older patients during and after treatment with R-CHOP remain incompletely understood. For this study, 690 consecutively treated patients age 70 years or older who received full-dose or attenuated-dose R-CHOP treatment were analyzed for risk of infection-related hospitalization and infection-related death. Median age was 77 years, and 34.4% were 80 years old or older. Median follow-up was 2.8 years (range, 0.4-8.9 years). Patient and baseline disease characteristics were assessed in addition to intended dose intensity (IDI). Of all patients, 72% were not hospitalized with infection. In 331 patients receiving an IDI ≥80%, 33% were hospitalized with ≥1 infections compared with 23.3% of 355 patients receiving an IDI of &lt;80% (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.25; P = .006). An increased risk of infection-related admission was independently associated with IDI &gt;80% across the whole cohort. Primary quinolone prophylaxis independently reduced infection-related admission. A total of 51 patients died as a result of infection. The 6-month, 12-month, 2-year, and 5-year cumulative incidences of infection-related death were 3.3%, 5.0%, 7.2%, and 11.1%, respectively. Key independent factors associated with infection-related death were an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score of 3 to 5, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) score ≥6, and low albumin, which enabled us to generate a predictive risk score. We defined a smaller group (15%) of patients (IPI score of 0-2, albumin &gt;36 g/L, CIRS-G score &lt;6) in which no cases of infection-related deaths occurred at 5 years of follow-up. Whether patients at higher risk of infection-related death could be targeted with enhanced antimicrobial prophylaxis remains unknown and will require a randomized trial.

scholarly journals Proposals for continued research to determine older adults’ falls risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 05 (04) ◽  
pp. 89-91
Author(s):  
Beatrice Pettersson ◽  
Ellinor Nordin ◽  
Anna Ramnemark ◽  
Lillemor Lundin-Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Falls Prediction

Early detection of older adults with an increased risk of falling could enable early onset of preventative measures. Currently used fall risk assessment tools have not proven sufficiently effective in differentiating between high and low fall risk in community-living older adults. There are a number of tests and measures available, but many timed and observation-based tools are performed on a flat floor without interaction with the surrounding. To improve falls prediction, measurements in other areas that challenge mobility in dynamic conditions and that take a persons’ own perception of steadiness into account should be further developed and evaluated as single or combined measures. The tools should be easy to apply in clinical practice or used as a self-assessment by the older adults themselves.

scholarly journals Fall Risk Assessment Tools

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 200-204
Author(s):  
Shyh Poh Teo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Admission Diagnosis ◽  
Fall Risk Assessment ◽  
Psychological Harm ◽  
Fall Rates

Falls in hospital are common and have serious consequences for patients, including physical and psychological harm, increase length of stay and hospital costs. A systematic approach is required to report and identify factors contributing to in-hospital falls and develop interventions to reduce inpatient fall rates. Different hospital settings have different fall rates and characteristics depending on type of hospital service and admission diagnosis. Screening tools were developed to assess fall risk but are usually insensitive to be useful in reducing falls. There is also a need for prospective validation in each hospital setting to ensure accuracy, resulting in a move away from using such scoring tools. A recommended approach for fall risk assessment is given, which integrates the process for outpatient settings and inpatients.

scholarly journals Validity of balance and mobility screening tests for assessing fall risk in COPD

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 147997312092253
Author(s):  
Rachel McLay ◽  
Renata Noce Kirkwood ◽  
Ayse Kuspinar ◽  
Julie Richardson ◽  
Joshua Wald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Fall Risk Assessment ◽  
Increased Risk

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have balance impairments and an increased risk of falls. The psychometric properties of short balance tests to inform fall risk assessment in COPD are unknown. Our objective was to determine the validity (concurrent, convergent, and known-groups) of short balance and mobility tests for fall risk screening. Participants with COPD aged ≥ 60 years attended a single assessment. Correlation coefficients described the relationships between the Brief Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Brief BESTest), Single-Leg Stance (SLS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Timed Up and Go Dual-Task (TUG-DT) tests, with the comprehensive Berg Balance Scale (BBS), chair-stand test, and measures of exercise tolerance, functional limitation, disability, and prognosis. Independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests were used to examine differences between groups with respect to fall risk. Receiver operating characteristic curves examined the ability of the screening tests to identify individuals with previous falls. A total of 86 patients with COPD completed the study (72.9 ± 6.8 years; forced expiratory volume in 1 second: 47.3 ± 20.3% predicted). The Brief BESTest identified individuals who reported a previous fall (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.715, p = 0.001), and the SLS showed borderline acceptable accuracy in identifying individuals with a fall history (AUC = 0.684, p = 0.004). The strongest correlations were found for the Brief BESTest and SLS with the BBS ( r = 0.80 and r = 0.72, respectively) and between the TUG and TUG-DT with the chair-stands test ( r = 0.73 and r = 0.70, respectively). The Brief BESTest and SLS show the most promise as balance screening tools for fall risk assessment in older adults with COPD. These tests should be further evaluated prospectively.

P468Pre-diabetes a new risk factor for stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation

EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Kezerle ◽  
M A Tsadok ◽  
A Akriv ◽  
B Feldman ◽  
M Leventer-Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Historical Cohort ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Individual Risk Factors

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Pfizer Israel Background Diabetes mellitus is a well-established independent risk factor for embolic complications in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The association between prediabetes and risk of ischemic stroke, however, has not been studied separately in patients with NVAF. Purpose To evaluate whether pre-diabetes is associated with increased risk of stroke and death in patients with NVAF Methods We conducted a prospective, historical cohort study using the Clalit Health Services (CHS) electronic medical records database. The study population included all CHS members ≥ 21 years old, with a first diagnosis of NVAF between January 1 2010 to December 31 2016 and a minimal follow-up period of 1 year. We compared three groups of patients:  prediabetes, those with established DM, and normoglycemic individuals Results A total of 44,451 cases were identified. The median age was 75 years and 52.5% were women. During a mean follow up of 38 months, the incidence of stroke per 100 person-years in the three study groups was: 1.14 in non-diabetics, 1.40 in pre-diabetics and 2.15 in diabetics. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, pre-diabetes was associated with an increased risk of stroke compared with non-diabetics (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.19 {95% CI 1.01-1.4}) even after adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASC individual risk factors and use of oral anti-coagulants while diabetes conferred an even higher risk (vs non-diabetics { HR = 1.56, 95% CI ;1.37 - 1.79}). The risk for mortality was higher for diabetics (HR =1.47,  95% CI ;1.41, 1.54}) but not for pre-diabetics (HR = 0.98 ,CI 95%; 0.92 - 1.03). Conclusion: In this observational cohort of patients with incident newly diagnosed patients with NVAF, pre-diabetes was associated with an increased risk of stroke even after accounting for other recognized risk factors. Abstract Figure. Kaplan-Meier for stroke-free survival

scholarly journals Inter-Relationships between Frailty, Sarcopenia, Undernutrition and Dysphagia in Older People Who Are Admitted to Acute Frailty and Medical Wards: Is There an Older Adult Quartet?

Geriatrics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
David Smithard ◽  
Dharinee Hansjee ◽  
Darrien Henry ◽  
Laura Mitchell ◽  
Arjun Sabaharwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Older People ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Nutritional Risk ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Medical Wards ◽  
Frailty Score

Introduction: With increasing age the prevalence of frailty, sarcopenia, undernutrition and dysphagia increases. These are all independent markers of outcome. This study explores the prevalence of these four and explores relationships between them. Methods: A convenience sample of 122 patients admitted to acute medical and frailty wards were recruited. Each was assessed using appropriate screening tools; Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) for frailty, SARC-F for sarcopenia, Nutritional Risk Tool (NRT) for nutritional status and 4QT for dysphagia. Results: The mean age of the participants was 80.53 years (65–99 years), and 50.37% (68) were female. Overall, 111 of the 122 (91.0%) reported the presence of at least one of the quartet. The median CFS was 5 (1–9), with 84 patients (68.9%) having a score of ≥5 (moderate or severely frail); The median SARC-F was 5 (0–10), with 64 patients (52.5%) having a score of ≥5; The median NRT was 0 (0–8) and 33 patients (27.0%) scored ≥ 1. A total of 77 patients (63.1%) reported no difficulty with swallowing/dysphagia (4QT ≥ 1) and 29 (23.7%) had only one factor. Sixteen patients (13.1%) had all four. There was a significant correlation between nutritional status and dysphagia, but not with frailty or sarcopenia. There were significant correlations between frailty and both sarcopenia and dysphagia. Conclusions: In our sample of acute medical and frailty ward patients, there was a much higher prevalence than expected (91%) of either: frailty, sarcopenia, undernutrition or dysphagia. The prevalence of all four was present in 13% of patients. We suggest that frailty, sarcopenia, nutritional risk and dysphagia comprise an “Older Adult Quartet”. Further study is required to investigate the effect of the “Older Adult Quartet” on morbidity and mortality.

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