TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Falls and fractures 2 years after acute stroke: the North Dublin Population Stroke Study
JO  - Age and ageing
A1  - Callaly, E. L.
A1  - Ni Chroinin, D.
A1  - Hannon, N.
A1  - Sheehan, O.
A1  - Marnane, M.
A1  - Merwick, A.
A1  - Kelly, L. A.
A1  - Horgan, G.
A1  - Williams, Elizabeth
A1  - Harris, D.
A1  - Williams, D.
A1  - Moore, A.
A1  - Dolan, E.
A1  - Murphy, S.
A1  - Kelly, P. J.
A1  - Duggan, J.
A1  - Kyne, L.
SP  - 882
EP  - 886
VL  - 44
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: Stroke patients are at increased risk of falls and fractures. The aim of this study was to determine the rate, predictors and consequences of falls within 2 years after stroke in a prospective population-based study in North Dublin, Ireland. <br><br>DESIGN: Prospective population-based cohort study. SUBJECTS: 567 adults aged >18 years from the North Dublin Population Stroke Study. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were enrolled from an Irish urban population of 294,592 individuals, according to recommended criteria. Patients were followed for 2 years. Outcome measures included death, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), fall and fracture rate. <br><br>RESULTS: At 2 years, 23.5% (124/522) had fallen at least once since their stroke, 14.2% (74/522) had 2 or more falls and 5.4% (28/522) had a fracture. Of 332 survivors at 2 years, 107 (32.2%) had fallen, of whom 60.7% (65/107) had 2 or more falls and 23.4% (25/107) had fractured. In a multivariable model controlling for age and gender, independent risk factors for falling within the first 2 years of stroke included use of alpha-blocker medications for treatment of hypertension (P = 0.02). When mobility measured at Day 90 was included in the model, patients who were mobility impaired (mRS 2-3) were at the highest risk of falling within 2 years of stroke [odds ratio (OR) 2.30, P = 0.003] and those functionally dependent (mRS 4-5) displayed intermediate risk (OR 2.02, P = 0.03) when compared with independently mobile patients. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Greater attention to falls risk, fall prevention strategies and bone health in the stroke population are required.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0002-0729
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afv093
ID  - ref1
ER  -