Citation

Shimada H, Suzukawa M, Ishizaki T, Kobayashi K, Kim H, Suzuki T. BMC Geriatr. 2011; 11(1): 40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/1471-2318-11-40

PMID

21838891

PMCID

PMC3167752

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Objective measurements can be used to identify people with risks of falls, but many frail elderly adults cannot complete physical performance tests. The study examined the relationship between a subjective risk rating of specific tasks (SRRST) to screen for fall risks and falls and fall-related fractures in frail elderly people. METHODS: The SRRST was investigated in 5,062 individuals aged 65 years or older who were utilized day-care services. The SRRST comprised 7 dichotomous questions to screen for fall risks during movements and behaviours such as walking, transferring, and wandering. The history of falls and fall-related fractures during the previous year was reported by participants or determined from an interview with the participant's family and care staff. RESULTS: All SRRST items showed significant differences between the participants with and without falls and fall-related fractures. In multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, diseases, and behavioural variables, the SRRST score was independently associated with history of falls and fractures. Odds ratios for those in the high-risk SRRST group ([greater than or equal to]5 points) compared with the no risk SRRST group (0 point) were 6.15 (p<0.01) for a single fall, 15.04 (p<0.01) for recurrent falls, and 5.05 (p<0.01) for fall-related fractures. The results remained essentially unchanged in subgroup analysis accounting for locomotion status. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that subjective ratings by care staff can be utilized to determine the risks of falls and fall-related fractures in the frail elderly, however, these preliminary results require confirmation in further prospective research.

Language: en