TABLE 1.
Significant risk factors for falls based on systematic reviews and current observational studies
| Hospital | LTC |
|---|---|
| Fall history (within the last 6 months) | Fall history (within the last 6 months) |
| Old age (>70 years) | High age (>80 years) |
| Male gender | |
| Diseases with an increased risk | |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Morbus Parkinson |
| Atrial fibrillation | |
| Dementia | |
| Insult | |
| Multimorbidity (> 3 diseases) | |
| Depression | |
| Arterial hypertension | |
| Urine incontinence | |
| Disease‐related changes | |
| Movement restriction | Dizziness (vertigo) |
| Gait insecurity increased | Cognitive impairment |
| Dizziness (vertigo) | Moderate physical impairment |
| Musculoskeletal restriction | Restricted balance |
| Visual impairment | Restricted gait |
| Sleep disorder | Difficulties with dual tasking |
| Cognitive impairment | |
| Confusion | |
| Need for support during transfer | |
| Difficulties with dual tasking | |
| Additional risk factors in patients with dementia | |
| Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) value <7 | Wandering behaviour |
| Depression | Taking psychoactive medication (the more drugs the higher the risk) |
| Wandering behaviour | |
| Taking more than five drugs | |
| Dependence in daily life activities | |
| Hospital stay over 5 weeks | |
| Additional risk factors in patients with cancer | |
| Pain | |
| Fatigue | |
| Delirium | |
| Malnutrition | |
| Dependence in daily life activities | |
| Taking more than five drugs | |
| Taking antipsychotics | |
| Medication that significantly increases fall risk | |
| Anticonvulsants | Antidepressants |
| Antipsychotics | Antipsychotics |
| Sedatives | Sedatives |
| Vasodilators | |
| Taking more than three drugs | |
| External risk factors | |
| Using walking aides | |
| Wearing slippers | |
For references, see Appendix S2.
Abbreviation: LTC, long‐term care.