TABLE 2.
Comparisons of Characteristics Between Fallers and Nonfallers in the High-Risk Group (n = 2227)
| Variables | Categories | Nonfaller (n = 1918) | Faller (n = 309) | χ2 or t | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) or M ± SD | n (%) or M ± SD | |||||
| Sex | Male | 1103 (57.5) | 175 (56.6) | 0.08 | 0.804 | |
| Age, y | 61.19 ± 15.04 | 62.1 ± 13.93 | −1.06 | 0.290 | ||
| Length of hospitalization, d | 40.60 ± 29.13 | 41.74 ± 53.10 | −0.360 | 0.720 | ||
| Education | ≤Elementary | 438 (22.9) | 74 (24.2) | 16.88 | 0.001 | |
| Middle school | 279 (14.6) | 64 (20.9) | ||||
| High school | 621 (32.5) | 107 (35.0) | ||||
| ≥ College | 574 (30.0) | 61 (19.9) | ||||
| Body mass index | Underweight | 287 (15.4) | 51 (16.6) | 4.85 | 0.088 | |
| Normal weight | 1120 (60.0) | 199 (64.6) | ||||
| Overweight | 459 (24.6) | 51 (16.6) | ||||
| Surgery | Yes | 778 (40.6) | 86 (27.8) | 18.17 | <0.001 | |
| Department | Hematology/oncology | 480 (25.0) | 92 (29.8) | 95.76 | <0.001 | |
| Gastrointestinal medicine | 465 (24.2) | 40 (12.9) | ||||
| Internal medicine (other) | 372 (19.4) | 66 (21.4) | ||||
| General surgery | 263 (13.7) | 61 (19.7) | ||||
| Neuro/chest/orthopedics | 267 (13.9) | 24 (7.8) | ||||
| Obstetrics gynecology/urology | 71 (3.7) | 16 (5.2) | ||||
| Surgery (other) | 0 (0) | 10 (3.2) | ||||
| Diagnosis | Vascular, pulmonary | 189 (9.9) | 38 (12.3) | 6.10 | 0.191 | |
| Neoplasm | 1014 (52.9) | 172 (55.7) | ||||
| Liver, digestive | 233 (12.1) | 37 (12.0) | ||||
| Infectious | 78 (4.1) | 14 (4.5) | ||||
| Others | 404 (21.1) | 4825 (15.5) | ||||
| Physical factors | Unconsciousness | Yes | 83 (4.3) | 11 (3.6) | 0.39 | 0.648 |
| Emotional instability | Yes | 35 (1.8) | 7 (2.3) | 0.28 | 0.650 | |
| Visual impairment | Yes | 69 (3.6) | 17 (5.5) | 2.60 | 0.112 | |
| Hearing impairment | Yes | 49 (2.6) | 13 (4.2) | 2.69 | 0.132 | |
| Dizziness | Yes | 67 (3.5) | 14 (4.5) | 0.82 | 0.411 | |
| General weakness | Yes | 1029 (53.6) | 171 (55.3) | 0.31 | 0.623 | |
| Impaired mobility | Yes | 483 (25.2) | 61 (19.7) | 4.27 | 0.039 | |
| Urinary impairment | Yes | 12 (0.6) | 3 (1.0) | 0.47 | 0.452 | |
| Morse Fall Scale items | History of falling | Yes | 263 (13.7) | 54 (17.5) | 3.09 | 0.080 |
| Secondary diagnosis | Yes | 1432 (74.7) | 230 (74.4) | 0.01 | 0.944 | |
| IV or heparin lock | Yes | 1572 (82.0) | 276 (89.3) | 10.21 | 0.001 | |
| Ambulatory aid: none/bed rest/nurse assist | Yes | 1539 (80.2) | 214 (69.3) | 19.17 | <0.001 | |
| Ambulatory aid: crutches/cane/walker | Yes | 304 (15.8) | 76 (24.6) | |||
| Ambulatory aid: furniture | Yes | 75 (3.9) | 19 (6.1) | |||
| Gait normal/bed rest/immobile | Yes | 900 (46.9) | 102 (33.0) | 21.14 | <0.001 | |
| Gait: weak | Yes | 813 (42.4) | 162 (52.4) | |||
| Gait: impaired | Yes | 205 (10.7) | 45 (14.6) | |||
| Mental status: oriented to own ability | Yes | 1580 (82.4) | 256 (82.8) | 0.04 | 0.872 | |
| Mental status: forgets limitations | Yes | 33.8 (17.6) | 53 (917.2) | |||
| Medication | Antihypertensives | Yes | 691 (36.0) | 110 (35.6) | 0.02 | 0.899 |
| Narcotics | Yes | 444 (23.1) | 132 (42.7) | 53.15 | <0.001 | |
| Antiepileptics | Yes | 421 (21.9) | 45 (14.6) | 8.78 | 0.003 | |
| Diuretics | Yes | 431 (22.5) | 69 (22.3) | 0.00 | 1.00 | |
| Antidepressants | Yes | 242 (12.6) | 42 (13.6) | 0.23 | 0.646 | |
| Benzodiazepines | Yes | 177 (9.2) | 29 (9.4) | 0.01 | 0.916 | |
| Antipsychotics | Yes | 171 (8.9) | 32 (10.4) | 0.67 | 0.396 | |
| Vasodilators | Yes | 25 (1.3) | 15 (5.6) | 19.02 | <0.001 | |
| Antihistamines | Yes | 242 (12.6) | 29 (9.4) | 2.60 | 0.112 | |
| Antiarrhythmics | Yes | 72 (3.8) | 23 (7.4) | 8.87 | 0.006 | |
| Muscle relaxants | Yes | 20 (1.0) | 10 (3.2) | 9.64 | 0.005 | |
| Chemotherapeutics | Yes | 69 (3.6) | 17 (5.5) | 2.60 | 0.112 | |
| Bowel softeners | Yes | 511 (26.6) | 73 (23.6) | 1.25 | 0.296 | |
| Hypnotics | Yes | 165 (8.6) | 53 (17.2) | 22.03 | <0.001 | |