Data from: Risk factors of falls in inpatients and their practical use in identifying high-risk persons at admission, Fukushima Medical University hospital cohort study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors of falls in hospital settings and to propose the use of such factors to identify high-risk persons at admission. Design: prospective cohort study Setting: Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Japan, from August 2008 and September 2009. Participants: 9,957 adult consecutive inpatients who had been admitted to our hospital. Methods: Information was collected from clinical records at admission obtained from a structured questionnaire conducted in the form of a face-to-face interview with subjects by nurses and doctors, and fall events collected from clinical records. Results: The faller ratio during follow-up was 2.5%. Incidence of fall was 3.28 per 100 persons-days. There were significant differences in age, history of falls, cognitive dysfunction, planned surgery, wheelchair use, need for help to move, use of a remote caring system, rehabilitation, use of laxative, hypnotic or psychotropic medications, and need for help with activities of daily living (ADL) between the two groups. The multivariable adjusted odds ratios for falls, we found that age, history of falls and need for help with ADL were common risk factors in both men and women. Using psychotropic medication also increased the risk of falling in men. Cognitive dysfunction and use of hypnotic medication increased the risk of falling in women. Planned surgery was associated with low risk of falls in women. Conclusions: To prevent falls in inpatients, it is important to identify high-risk persons. Age, history of falls and the need for help with ADL are the most important pieces of information to be obtained at admission. Care plans for patients including fall prevention should be clear and considered.