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. 2014 Apr 15;7(3):257–263. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfu034

Table 1.

Summary of findings from previous studies of falls among patients undergoing hemodialysis

Location # Participants
# Dialysis units		 Participant age Fall prevalence Fall risk factor evidence
The UK [1] 47 patients
1 unit		  Inline graphic = 78.2 (5.3) 30% over 12 months

  • Orthostatic hypotension
Belgium [2] 308 patients
7 units		 Median = 71 12.7% over 8 weeks

  • Older age

  • Diabetes

  • # medications

  • Antidepressants

  • Unable to walk 10 m without assistance
Canada [3, 4] 135 (studied
retrospectively)
162 (studied
prospectively)
1 center		  Inline graphic = 74.9 (6.2)

Inline graphic = 74.7 (6.1)		 27% over 12 months

47% over a median of 468 days

  • Older age

  • Higher CCI

  • Male

  • Previous fall
The USA [6] 76 patients
2 units		 Inline graphic = 62.4(16.1) 26.3% over 12 months

  • Age ≥65

  • Female
Switzerland [7] 84 patients
1 center		 Median = 69.5 a28.6% over a mean of 20.6 months

  • Older age

  • Depression

  • Malnutrition

  • Previous fall
The USA [8] 95 patients
1 unit		 Inline graphic = 60.5 (12.6) 28.3% over a median of 6.7 months

  • Frailty

  • Female

CCI, Charlson comorbidity index.

aThe study focus was severe falls, defined as ‘fall(s) requiring presentation to an emergency department and/or hospitalization’ [7].