Article

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature to identify and synthesize the evidence on
risk factors for patient falls in geriatric rehabilitation hospital settings.
DATA SOURCES: Eligible studies were systematically searched on 16 databases from
inception to December 2010. REVIEW METHODS:
The search strategies used a
combination of terms for rehabilitation hospital patients, falls, risk factors
and older adults. Cross-sectional, cohort, case-control studies and randomized
clinical trials (RCTs) published in English that investigated risks for falls
among patients >/=65 years of age in rehabilitation hospital settings were
included. Studies that investigated fall risk assessment tools, but did not
investigate risk factors themselves or did not report a measure of risk (e.g.
odds ratio, relative risk) were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 2,824 references
were identified; only eight articles concerning six studies met the inclusion
criteria. In these, 1,924 geriatric rehabilitation patients were followed. The
average age of the patients ranged from 77 to 83 years, the percentage of women
ranged from 56% to 81%, and the percentage of fallers ranged from 15% to 54%. Two
were case-control studies, two were RCTs and four were prospective cohort
studies. Several intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for falls were identified.
CONCLUSION: Carpet flooring, vertigo, being an amputee, confusion, cognitive
impairment, stroke, sleep disturbance, anticonvulsants, tranquilizers and
antihypertensive medications, age between 71 and 80, previous falls, and need for
transfer assistance are risk factors for geriatric patient falls in
rehabilitation hospital settings.

Langue : ANGLAIS