Article

Falls are a serious medical complication following stroke. The objectives of this
study were to (1) confirm the prevalence of falls among patients with stroke
during acute hospitalization, (2) identify factors associated with falls during
the acute stay, and (3) examine whether in-hospital falls were associated with
loss of function after stroke (new dependence at discharge). We completed a
secondary analysis of data from a retrospective cohort study of patients with
ischemic stroke who were hospitalized at one of four hospitals. We used logistic
regression to identify factors associated with inpatient falls and examine the
association between falls and loss of function. Among 1,269 patients with stroke,
65 (5%) fell during the acute hospitalization period. We found two
characteristics independently associated with falls: greater stroke severity
(National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] >/=8, adjusted odds ratio
[OR] = 3.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-9.00) and history of anxiety
(adjusted OR = 4.90, 95% CI: 1.70-13.90). Falls were independently associated
with a loss of function (adjusted OR = 9.85, 95% CI: 1.22-79.75) even after
adjusting for age, stroke severity, gait abnormalities, and past stroke. Stroke
severity (NIHSS >8) may be clinically useful during the acute inpatient setting
in identifying those at greatest risk of falling. Given the association between
falls and poor patient outcomes, rehabilitation interventions should be
implemented to prevent falls poststroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS