%0 Journal Article
%T Validation of two risk-prediction models for recurrent falls in the first year after stroke: a prospective cohort study
%J Age and ageing
%D 2017
%A Walsh, Mary E.
%A Galvin, Rose
%A Boland, Fiona
%A Williams, David
%A Harbison, Joseph A.
%A Murphy, Sean
%A Collins, Ronan
%A Crowe, Morgan
%A McCabe, Dominick J. H.
%A Horgan, Frances
%V 46
%N 4
%P 642-648
%X BACKGROUND: several multivariable models have been derived to predict post-stroke falls. These require validation before integration into clinical practice. The aim of this study was to externally validate two prediction models for recurrent falls in the first year post-stroke using an Irish prospective cohort study. <br><br>METHODOLOGY: stroke patients with planned home-discharges from five hospitals were recruited. Falls were recorded with monthly diaries and interviews 6 and 12 months post-discharge. Predictors for falls included in two risk-prediction models were assessed at discharge. Participants were classified into risk groups using these models. Model 1, incorporating inpatient falls history and balance, had a 6-month outcome. Model 2, incorporating inpatient near-falls history and upper limb function, had a 12-month outcome. Measures of calibration, discrimination (area under the curve (AUC)) and clinical utility (sensitivity/specificity) were calculated. <br><br>RESULTS: 128 participants (mean age = 68.6 years, SD = 13.3) were recruited. The fall status of 117 and 110 participants was available at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Seventeen and 28 participants experienced recurrent falls by these respective time points. Model 1 achieved an AUC = 0.56 (95% CI 0.46-0.67), sensitivity = 18.8% and specificity = 93.6%. Model 2 achieved AUC = 0.55 (95% CI 0.44-0.66), sensitivity = 51.9% and specificity = 58.7%. Model 1 showed no significant difference between predicted and observed events (risk ratio (RR) = 0.87, 95% CI 0.16-4.62). In contrast, model 2 significantly over-predicted fall events in the validation cohort (RR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.04-2.48). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: both models showed poor discrimination for predicting recurrent falls. A further large prospective cohort study would be required to derive a clinically useful falls-risk prediction model for a similar population.<br><br>© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Oxford University Press
%@ 0002-0729
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw255