Falls among institutionalized elderly--a prospective study in four institutions in Finland.
We analyzed prospectively the incidence, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors and the consequences of falls during a 7-month period in 4 institutions in Finland in 1993. A total of 370 falls among 160 patients were recorded. Of the fallers 56% fell once and 44% more than once (range 2-24). The mean fall rate in men was higher than that in women (p < 0.01). Fallen men were younger but less ambulatory than women. Of the falls 95% occurred without eyewitness and 27% during the night shift; 30% (114/370) resulted in an injury and 7% (11/160) of the fallers suffered a fracture.
Nurmi
I
I
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Sihvonen
M
M
Kataja
M
M
Lüthje
P
P
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors