Table 2.
The association of factors with recurrent falls in the first year post discharge (n = 110).
| Variable | Category | Non recurrent fallers (n = 82) | Recurrent fallers (n = 28) | RR | 95% CI | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Mean (SD) | 69.0 (13.5) | 67.1 (13.5) | 0.99 | 0.97–1.01 | 0.51 |
| Sex | Female | 39% | 36% | 0.90 | 0.46–1.76 | 0.76 |
| Side of stroke | Right cerebrum | 40% | 43% | 1.17 | 0.52–2.61 | 0.70 |
| Left cerebrum | 32% | 32% | 1.10 | 0.47–2.60 | 0.83 | |
| Bilateral/other location | 28% | 25% | Ref. | |||
| Stroke severitya | Mild/no symptoms (NIHSS=0–4) | 68% | 56% | Ref. | ||
| Moderate (NIHSS=5–15) | 30% | 41% | 1.44 | 0.75–2.80 | 0.27 | |
| Severe (NIHSS>15) | 1% | 4% | 2.23 | 0.52–9.58 | 0.28 | |
| Comorbidity | >2 points on FCI | 23% | 21% | 0.93 | 0.42–2.03 | 0.85 |
| Falls history | Fall in year prior to stroke | 18% | 25% | 1.34 | 0.66–2.74 | 0.41 |
| Self-reported fall in hospital | 9% | 15% | 1.70 | 0.74–3.94 | 0.21 | |
| Prescribed | Anti-hypertensive medication | 67% | 61% | 0.82 | 0.43–1.56 | 0.54 |
| medications | Psychotropic medications | 16% | 36% | 2.10 | 1.13–3.91 | 0.02* |
| Polypharmacy | 52% | 50% | 0.93 | 0.49–1.76 | 0.82 | |
| Bisphosphonates or Vitamin D/calcium | 15% | 11% | 0.76 | 0.26–2.21 | 0.61 | |
| Independence | Barthel index 100 | 52% | 22% | Ref. | ||
| in ADLs | Barthel index 90–95 | 27% | 30% | 2.11 | 0.82–5.47 | 0.12 |
| Barthel index 80–85 | 17% | 33% | 3.14 | 1.28–7.71 | 0.01* | |
| Barthel index 65–75 | 4% | 15% | 4.38 | 1.64–11.72 | <0.01* | |
| Cognition | Impaired | 22% | 31% | 1.40 | 0.70–2.83 | 0.34 |
| Visuospatial neglect | Present | 18% | 14% | 0.82 | 0.33–2.05 | 0.68 |
| Gait aid | Using stick or walker | 32% | 45% | 1.49 | 0.78–2.85 | 0.23 |
| Lives alone at discharge | Yes | 28% | 19% | 0.98 | 0.61–1.57 | 0.93 |
aDichotomous comparison of NIHSS (0–4 versus 5+ points): RR = 1.49 (0.78–2.83), p = 0.22.
*p < 0.05, statistically significant.
RR: risk ratio; ADL: activities of daily living; NIHSS: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; FCI: functional comorbidity index; Ref: reference category.