Risk factors for falling in a psychogeriatric unit.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors associated with falls in a psychogeriatric inpatient population.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
A psychogeriatric inpatient unit in a Brown University affiliated psychiatric hospital.


METHODS
A total of 1834 men and women who represented all admissions to the psychogeriatric inpatient unit between January 1992 and December 1995.


RESULTS
Over the study period a total of 175 falls were recorded, giving a fall rate of 9.5%. Using a logistic regression model, six variables were found to be independently associated with an increased risk of falling: female gender, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), mood stabilizers, cardiac arrhythmias, Parkinson's syndrome and dementias. Falls and ECT were associated with longer hospital stay, when adjusted for confounders including ECT.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support previous results and identify ECT as a possible risk factor for falling in a hospital setting.
de Carle
A J
AJ
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
Kohn
R
R
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management; D017678:Sex Distribution