@article{ref1,
title="Older fallers attended to by an ambulance but not transported to hospital: a vulnerable population at high risk of future falls",
journal="Australian and New Zealand journal of public health",
year="2013",
author="Tiedemann, Anne and Mikolaizak, A. Stefanie and Sherrington, Catherine and Segin, Kerrie and Lord, Stephen R. and Close, Jacqueline C. T.",
volume="37",
number="2",
pages="179-185",
abstract="Objective : This prospective cohort study describes older non-transported fallers seen by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales (ASNSW), quantifies the level of risk and identifies predictors of future falls and ambulance use. Methods : Participants were 262 people aged 70 years or older with a fall-related ASNSW attendance who were not transported to an emergency department. They completed a questionnaire about health, medical and physical factors previously associated with falling. Falls were monitored for six months after ambulance attendance with monthly fall calendars. Results : Participants had a high prevalence of chronic medical conditions, functional limitations and past falls. During follow-up, 145 participants (58%) experienced 488 falls. Significant predictors of falls during follow-up were three or more falls in the past year, being unable to walk more than 10 minutes without resting, and requiring assistance for personal-care activities of daily living (ADLs). Sixty-two participants (25%) required repeat, fall-related ambulance attendance during the study. Predictors of repeat ambulance use were: 3+ falls in past year, requiring assistance for personal-care ADLs and having disabling pain in past month. Conclusions : Older, non-transported fallers seen by the ASNSW are a vulnerable population with high rates of chronic health conditions. Implications : Onward referral for preventive interventions may reduce future falls and ambulance service calls. Language: en
",
language="en",
issn="1326-0200",
doi="10.1111/1753-6405.12037",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12037"
}