title: Falls after stroke: results from the Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) Study, 2002 to 2003.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Falls are an important issue in older people. We aimed to determine the incidence, circumstances, and predictors of falls in patients with recent acute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) study was a prospective population-based stroke incidence study conducted in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ) during 2002 to 2003. Among 6-month survivors, the location and consequences of any falls were ascertained by self-report as part of a structured interview. Multivariable logistic regression was used to establish associations between risk factors and "any" and "injurious" falls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1104 stroke survivors who completed an interview, 407 (37%) reported at least 1 fall, 151 (37% of fallers, 14% of stroke survivors) sustained an injury that required medical treatment, and 31 (8% of fallers, 3% of stroke survivors) sustained a fracture. The majority of falls occurred indoors at home. Independent factors associated with falls were depressive symptoms, disability, previous falls, and older age. For injurious falls, the positively associated factors were female sex and NZ/European ethnicity and dependence before the stroke, whereas higher levels of activity and normal cognition were negatively associated factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Falls are common after stroke, and their predictive factors are similar to those for older people in general. Falls prevention programs require implementation in stroke services.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. n.kerse@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Ngaire
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kerse
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parag
authors.forename: Valery L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Feigin
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.forename: Maree L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: Derrick A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Craig S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology