Sex differences in mortality of older adults with falls after emergency department consultation: FALL-ER registry.

BACKGROUND: To investigate if sex is a risk factor for mortality in patients consulting at the emergency department (ED) for an unintentional fall. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the FALL-ER registry, a cohort of patients ≥65 years with an unintentional fall presenting to one of 5 Spanish EDs during 52 predefined days (one per week during one year). We collected 18 independent patient baseline and fall-related variables. Patients were followed for 6 months and all-cause mortality recorded. The association between biological sex and mortality was expressed as unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with the 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and subgroup analyses were performed by assessing the interaction of sex with all baseline and fall-related mortality risk variables. RESULTS: Of 1315 enrolled patients (median age 81 years), 411 were men (31%) and 904 women (69%). The 6-month mortality was higher in men (12.4% vs. 5.2%, HR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.65-3.71), although age was similar between sexes. Men had more comorbidity, previous hospitalizations, loss of consciousness, and an intrinsic cause for falling. Women more frequently lived alone, with self-reported depression, and the fall results in a fracture and immobilization. Nonetheless, after adjustment for age and these eight divergent variables, older men aged 65 and over still showed a significantly higher mortality (HR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.39-3.45), with the highest risk observed during the first month after ED presentation (HR = 4.18, 95% CI = 1.31-13.3). We found no interaction between sex and any patient-related or fall-related variables with respect to mortality (p > 0.05 in all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: Male sex is a risk factor for death following ED presentation for a fall in the older population adults aged 65 and over. The causes for this risk should be investigated in future studies.

180-Day functional decline among older patients attending an emergency department after a fall.

OBJECTIVES: To determine functional changes and factors affecting 180-day functional prognosis among older patients attending a hospital emergency department (ED) after a fall. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis from a prospective cohort study (FALL-ER Registry) spanning one year that included individuals aged ≥65 years attending four Spanish EDs after a fall. We collected 9 baseline and 6 fall-related factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Barthel Index (BI) was measured at baseline, discharge and 30, 90 and 180 days after the index fall. Absolute and relative BI changes were calculated. Absolute difference of ≥10 points between BI at baseline and at 180 days was considered a clinically significant functional decline. RESULTS: 452 patients (mean age 80 ±â€¯8 years; 70.8% women) were included. Baseline BI was 79.3 ±â€¯23.1 points. Compared with baseline, functional status was significantly lower at the 4 follow-up time points (-8.7% at discharge; and -6.9%, -7.9% and -9.5% at 30, 90 and 180 days; p < 0.001 for all comparisons in relation to baseline; p = 0.001 for change over time). One hundred and thirty-three (29.6%) patients had a clinically significant functional decline at 180 days. Age ≥85 years (OR = 2.24, 95%CI 1.23-4.08; p = 0.008), fall-related fracture (OR = 2.45, 95%CI 1.43-4.28; p = 0.001), hospitalization (OR = 1.91; 95%CI 1.11-3.29; p = 0.019) and post-fall syndrome (OR = 1.77, 95%CI 1.13-2.77; p = 0.013) were independently associated with 180-day clinically significant functional decline. CONCLUSION: Patients ≥65 years attending EDs after a fall experience a consistent and persistent negative impact on their functional status. Several factors may help identify patients at increased risk of functional impairment.

Perfil de los pacientes ancianos atendidos en urgencias por caídas (Registro FALL-ER): magnitud del problema y posibilidades de mejora en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios / Profile of older patients attended in the emergency department after falls: a FALL-ER registry study of the magnitude of the problem and opportunities for improving hospital emergency care

Objetivo: Estudiar el perfil de los pacientes de 65 años o más atendidos por una caída en los servicios de urgencias (SU), las características de las caídas, y el grado y los factores asociados con la realización de recomendaciones para prevenir las caídas (RPC). Método: FALL-ER es un registro de cohortes multipropósito, prospectivo y multicéntrico, con muestreo sistemático, que incluyó todos los pacientes de 65 años o más atendidos por caída en 5 SU durante 52 días en un año. Se recogieron 68 variables independientes. Los pacientes se clasificaron en función de recibir o no RPC (cualquiera de las siguientes: ejercicio, educación sobre prevención de las caídas, derivación a especialista o modificación de fármacos relacionados con las caídas). Resultados: Se analizaron 1.507 (93,6%) del total de 1.610 pacientes. Los pacientes tenían una edad muy avanzada y alto grado de comorbilidad, polifarmacia y síndromes geriátricos previos. La caída suele suceder de día, en domicilio y en la mitad de casos sin testigo. Un 48% refirió miedo a caerse, un 22% presentó deterioro funcional agudo, un 16% ingresó y un 0,6% falleció. Se realizaron RPC en 509 (33,8%) casos. La disminución de la agudeza auditiva, deterioro cognitivo autorreferido, atención médica en el lugar de la caída, miedo a volver a caerse, deterioro funcional agudo y hospitalización se asociaron con mayor probabilidad de RPC, y la disminución de la agudeza visual con menor probabilidad. Conclusiones: Solo tres de cada diez pacientes ancianos atendidos por una caída en urgencias recibe RPC posteriores, aunque existen ciertas características relacionadas con el paciente y la caída que se asocian a una mayor probabilidad de recibirlas

Objective: To profile patients aged 65 years or older who are attended in a hospital emergency department after falls. To describe the falls, their severity, and factors relevant to recommended preventive measures. Methods: The FALL-ER is a multipurpose, multicenter prospective registry of a systematically described cohort of patients aged 65 years or older attended in 5 hospital emergency departments on 52 days of the same year. We collected data on 68 independent variables. Patients were classified according to whether they had received recommendations related to preventing falls in any of the following categories: exercise, education on fall prevention, referral to a specialist or changes in medication. Results: A total of 1507 patients or carers were interviewed (93.6% of the 1610 patients in the registry). The cohort was of advanced age and had high rates of comorbidity, polypharmacy, and history of geriatric syndromes. The majority of falls occurred during the day and in the patients home. Half the falls were not witnessed. Forty-eight percent of the patients reported fear of falling, 22% had acute functional impairment, 16% were admitted, and 0.6% died in the hospital. Recommendations directed to preventing falls were received by 509 (33.8%) cases. Loss of hearing acuity, self-reported cognitive impairment, emergency first aid at the site of the fall, fear of falling again, acute functional impairment, and hospitalization were associated with a greater likelihood of receiving recommendations for preventing falls. Loss of visual acuity was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving recommendations. Conclusions: Only a third of elderly patients attended in an emergency department after falls receive recommendations that target preventing further falls. Certain patient and fall characteristics are associated with a greater likelihood of receiving such recommendations

Profile of older patients attended in the emergency department after falls: a FALL-ER registry study of the magnitude of the problem and opportunities for improving hospital emergency care. / Perfil de los pacientes ancianos atendidos en urgencias por caídas (Registro FALL-ER): magnitud del problema y posibilidades de mejora en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios.

OBJECTIVES: To profile patients aged 65 years or older who are attended in a hospital emergency department after falls. To describe the falls, their severity, and factors relevant to recommended preventive measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The FALL-ER is a multipurpose, multicenter prospective registry of a systematically described cohort of patients aged 65 years or older attended in 5 hospital emergency departments on 52 days of the same year. We collected data on 68 independent variables. Patients were classified according to whether they had received recommendations related to preventing falls in any of the following categories: exercise, education on fall prevention, referral to a specialist or changes in medication. RESULTS: . A total of 1507 patients or carers were interviewed (93.6% of the 1610 patients in the registry). The cohort was of advanced age and had high rates of comorbidity, polypharmacy, and history of geriatric syndromes. The majority of falls occurred during the day and in the patients home. Half the falls were not witnessed. Forty-eight percent of the patients reported fear of falling, 22% had acute functional impairment, 16% were admitted, and 0.6% died in the hospital. Recommendations directed to preventing falls were received by 509 (33.8%) cases. Loss of hearing acuity, self-reported cognitive impairment, emergency first aid at the site of the fall, fear of falling again, acute functional impairment, and hospitalization were associated with a greater likelihood of receiving recommendations for preventing falls. Loss of visual acuity was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving recommendations. CONCLUSION: Only a third of elderly patients attended in an emergency department after falls receive recommendations that target preventing further falls. Certain patient and fall characteristics are associated with a greater likelihood of receiving such recommendations.

OBJETIVO: Estudiar el perfil de los pacientes de 65 años o más atendidos por una caída en los servicios de urgencias (SU), las características de las caídas, y el grado y los factores asociados con la realización de recomendaciones para prevenir las caídas (RPC). METODO: FALL-ER es un registro de cohortes multipropósito, prospectivo y multicéntrico, con muestreo sistemático, que incluyó todos los pacientes de 65 años o más atendidos por caída en 5 SU durante 52 días en un año. Se recogieron 68 variables independientes. Los pacientes se clasificaron en función de recibir o no RPC (cualquiera de las siguientes: ejercicio, educación sobre prevención de las caídas, derivación a especialista o modificación de fármacos relacionados con las caídas). RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 1.507 (93,6%) del total de 1.610 pacientes. Los pacientes tenían una edad muy avanzada y alto grado de comorbilidad, polifarmacia y síndromes geriátricos previos. La caída suele suceder de día, en domicilio y en la mitad de casos sin testigo. Un 48% refirió miedo a caerse, un 22% presentó deterioro funcional agudo, un 16% ingresó y un 0,6% falleció. Se realizaron RPC en 509 (33,8%) casos. La disminución de la agudeza auditiva, deterioro cognitivo autorreferido, atención médica en el lugar de la caída, miedo a volver a caerse, deterioro funcional agudo y hospitalización se asociaron con mayor probabilidad de RPC, y la disminución de la agudeza visual con menor probabilidad. CONCLUSIONES: Solo tres de cada diez pacientes ancianos atendidos por una caída en urgencias recibe RPC posteriores, aunque existen ciertas características relacionadas con el paciente y la caída que se asocian a una mayor probabilidad de recibirlas.

Characteristics and outcomes of older adults presented to Spanish emergency departments after a fall.

PURPOSE: To study patient profile, fall-related characteristics and immediate outcomes according to age and to determine the effect of age in the outcomes among older patients presenting to ED after a fall. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the FALL-ER registry that included patients aged ≥ 65 years old that presented to five Spanish EDs after a fall. Patients were classified into three age categories, and demographic, comorbidity, chronic medication, fall-related characteristics, health care resources and immediate outcomes data were analysed. RESULTS: We included 1610 patients, 541 (28%) aged 65-74, 647 (40.2%) aged 74-84 and 512 (31.8%) aged ≥ 85 years old. Indoor falls, with no witnesses, at night and due to non-identified causes were significantly more likely among the oldest old. Medications related to risk of falling and antithrombotic therapy significantly increased with age category. Physical, functional and psychological consequences and healthcare resource use increased significantly with age group. Age was independently associated with severe injury (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.01-1.04), fear of falling (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.01-1.04) and acute functional impairment (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.00-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Indoor falls, with no witnesses, at night and due to non-identified causes were significantly more likely among the oldest old. The probability of presenting with severe injury, fear of falling and acute functional impairment increases with age.