Risk factors for falls in hospitalized patients with ischemic cardiopathy

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the presence of the Nursing Diagnosis Risk for Falls in hospitalized patients with ischemic heart disease in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. This was a descriptive and quantitative study. Data collection happened from July 2010 to February 2011, through interviews, physical examination and by consulting medical records. We used an instrument to investigate the clinical and socio-demographic profile of the patients and also a check-list consisting of the Nursing Diagnosis risk factors. Of the 86 participants, 56.5% were male, mean age of 63.95 (±12.6) years. All the participants had more than two risk factors for falls, 46.5% presented six to nine concurrent risk factors. Among the investigated risk factors we identified: use of antihypertensive drugs (98.8%), visual impairment (66.3%), and sleeplessness (54.3%). Therefore, it is important for nurses to plan the care in order to prevent falls, especially for hospitalized patients with ischemic heart disease.

Nursing diagnoses in elderly people admitted in surgical unit / Diagnósticos de enfermagem em idosos internados em unidade cirúrgica

“…In this study, males were the majority, representing 55.3% of the sample, being a fact also observed in a research performed in elderly patients in Fortaleza city, Ceará State, Brazil. 9 More than half (68.4%) of the patients do not have Elementary Education degree, and only 5.3% of them have College Education degree. This fact shows a low level of education when compared with the elderly population in Brazil.…”

“…Faced with all these aggravating factors for the ND ofrisk of fall, the nurse needs to identify the risks, proposing preventive actions for a faster rehabilitation of the surgical elderly patient. 9 The risk factors of the ND of risk of fall were: medication use, postoperative condition, walking difficulty, foot problems, visual difficulty, lack of sleep, vascular disease, impaired mobility, use of prosthesis,use of an auxiliary device, history of falls, orthostatic hypotension, decreased strength at the extremities, impaired equilibrium, and reduced mental status. Among these factors, the postoperative condition, walking difficulty, presence of foot problems, impaired mobility and use of prosthesis were significantly associated with the ND of risk offalls, all with p<0.05, according to Table 5.…”

Impact of a fall in the elderly: an analysis of the risk factors

“…The data showed the occurrence of greater decline in women (92%). The frequency of decreased outdoor activity, prevalence of disease and heavy use of medications caused greater commitment to them (5) .…”