Risk factors for falls in hospitalized older people.

INTRODUCTION

To identify risk factors for falls in hospitalized older patients by healthcare professionals, especially nurses, is essential to ensure patient safety and well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between the risk of falls and demographic, health, and clinical factors in hospitalized older people.

METHOD: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and analytical study. The study population consisted of 146 older people receiving care at the Adult Unit of the University Hospital. The following instruments were used to collect data: Demographic profile, clinical data, 10-point Cognitive Screener, Morse Scale, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia, Tilburg Frailty Indicator, and Barthel Index. The information was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Logistic linear regression analysis was used to identify the association between the variables. Statical significance was set a prior a p < 0.05, two-tailed.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 51.4% men. Their mean age was 71.4 years, and 50.7% reported having a partner. The mean years of education level was 6.1. Patients had a mean of 3.6 medical diagnoses (SD = 1.5). Cognitive screening showed that 43.8% were "Normal". The risk of falls was classified as 6.8% with a low risk, 24.7% with a moderate risk, and 68.5% with a high risk. Regarding functional capacity, the mean score was 80.3 points, and 57.5% had no signs suggestive of sarcopenia. The association analysis found that increased heart rate (p = 0.02), functional capacity decreased (p < 0.001), risk of sarcopenia (p < 0.001), and medical diagnoses number (p = 0.009) increased the risk of falls in older people.

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of fall risk was identified among hospitalized older adults, associated with elevated heart rate, reduced functional capacity, risk of sarcopenia, and multiple comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventive strategies, including heart rate monitoring, sarcopenia management, and interventions such as early mobilization and physical therapy to preserve functional capacity.

DESCRIPTORS: Accidental Falls, Health Services for the Aged, Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders, Hospitals, Risk Factors.