Article

Objective: To investigate whether the Prediction of Falls in Rehabilitation
Settings Tool (Predict FIRST) and motor function could be used to identify people
at risk of falling during the first six weeks after stroke, and to compare the
risk of falling according to Predict FIRST with real falls frequency. Design : A
longitudinal, prospective study. Patients: Sixty-eight people newly diagnosed
with stroke admitted to an acute stroke unit. Methods : The participants underwent
an assessment of motor ability (Modified Motor Assessment Scale according to
Uppsala University Hospital version 99 (M-MAS UAS-99)) and falls risk (Predict
FIRST) on the first to fourth day at the acute stroke unit. Falls occurring in
the acute stroke unit were recorded and falls occurring after discharge were
reported by telephone follow-up. The prediction of falls was analysed with binary
logistic regression. Results: Fourteen of the patients (21%) fell at least once
during the first six weeks after stroke. The strongest significant predictor for
falls was a high score on Predict FIRST (odds ratio 5.21, confidence interval
(CI) 1.10-24.78) followed by M-MAS UAS-99 parts C-E (odds ratio 0.65, CI
0.44-0.95). Predict FIRST underestimated the risk of falling as the median fall
risk was 9% according to Predict FIRST. Conclusion: Although Predict FIRST has
the ability to predict falls in people with recent onset of stroke, there is some
underestimation of fall risk.

Langue : ANGLAIS