Factors Associated with the Risk of Falls of Nursing Home Residents Aged 80 or Older

Abstract

Background: Falls are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in older and represents one of the major and most costly public health problems worldwide. Purpose: Evaluate the influences of lower limb muscle performance, static balance, functional independence and quality of life on fall risk as assessed with the timed up and go (TUG) test. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Fifty-two residents aged 80 or older were assessed and distributed in one of the two study groups (no risk of falls; risk of falls) according to the time to complete the TUG test. A Kistler force platform and linear transducer was used to determinate lower limb muscle performance. Postural Stability (static balance) was measured by recording the center of pressure. The EuroQol-5 dimension was used to assess Health-related quality of life and the Barthel index was used to examine functional status. Student's t-test was performed to evaluate the differences between groups. Correlations between variables were analyzed using Spearman or Pearson coefficient. ROC (receiver operating charasteristic) analysis was used to determine the cut-off points related to a decrease in the risk of a fall. Findings: Participants of no-fall risk group showed better lower limb performance, quality of life, and functional status. Cut-off points were determined for each outcome. Conclusions: Risk of falls in nursing home residents over the age of 80 is associated with lower limb muscle performance, functional status, and quality of Life. Clinical Relevance: Cut-off points can be used by clinicians when working toward fall prevention and could help in determining the optimal lower limb muscle performance level for preventing falls.

Validity of a Novel, Clinically Relevant Measure to Differentiate Functional Power and Movement Velocity and Discriminate Fall History Among Older Adults: A Pilot Investigation

“…However, prior studies yielded varying magnitudes of differences. Álvarez-Barbosa and colleagues ( 12 ) found that nursing home residents over the age of 80 years at risk of falls had 50% lower power and slower MV during the 30-second chair stand but no differences in postural sway ( 12 ). Comparatively, power and velocity ranged between 14% and 18% lower in our study among people with a history of falls.…”

“…Differences in results are likely due to the dissimilar sample populations and group stratifications. We studied community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older and stratified groups by fall history whereas Álvarez-Barbosa and colleagues ( 12 ) studied nursing home residents over the age of 80 stratified by fall risk. Taken together, these data imply that there may be greater discrepancies in MV with advancing age and further research is needed to evaluate this concept.…”

“…Additionally, MV and muscular power are more discriminant than postural sway among older adults with functional impairments. Among nursing home residents with a history of falls, power measured through a force platform and MV measured by a linear transducer during a sit-to-stand task were 50% lower among individuals with a history of falls yet there were no differences in postural sway ( 12 ). These studies highlight the need for investigation of the unique relationship of functional (sit-to-stand) power and MV in relation to falls among older adults.…”

Sociotechnical probabilistic risk modeling to predict injurious falls in community living centers

“…The risk factors we chose to stratify in the models are some of the most important documented risk factors for falls [36,[38][39]. Likewise, based on provider participant guidance, we only modeled six types of falls involving locations in which falls are most common in long-term care settings, that is, the bedroom and the bathroom during walking and transfers [26].…”

Development and evaluation of brochures for fall prevention education created to empower nursing home residents and family members

“…These residents commonly sustain injuries, such as fractures, wounds, or contusions as a result, whereby about 15% of the injuries led to referral to a physician (Büchele et al., ). This risk is associated with functional status limitations and decreased quality of life (Álvarez Barbosa et al., ). Nursing home staff must enact multifactorial intervention programmes to reduce risk factors for falling and support the residents’ efforts to live as safely as possible and free from anxiety (Cameron et al., ; Vlaeyen et al., ).…”