Pilot study examining the association between ambulatory activity and falls among hospitalized older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ambulatory activity of older patients who had a documented fall during hospitalization for acute illness.


METHODS
A retrospective case-control design was used in a pilot study of patients (n=10; ≥65y) who had a documented fall during their hospital stay and matched controls (n=25) who did not fall.


METHODS
Acute care medical/surgical unit.


METHODS
Men and women 65 years and older who wore a step activity monitor while hospitalized.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Fall incidents during the hospital stay were documented by the nurse in a standardized patient safety event report in accordance with hospital policy. The number of steps per 24-hour interval, time spent walking, and total number of activity episodes were determined for patients and controls.


RESULTS
On average ± SD, patients who fell took 480.3 ± 432.2 steps per hospital day, spent 53.8 ± 36.9 minutes walking, and engaged in 25.8 ± 16.9 episodes of activity. Mean daily steps, time spent walking, and number of activity episodes for patients who did not fall were 680.1 ± 876.0, 50.1 ± 58.6, and 21.6 ± 23.8, respectively. Logistic regression results indicated no association between the fall outcome and mean daily steps (odds ratio=.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory activity among patients who fell varied widely. Mean daily steps, time spent walking, and number of episodes of activity were comparable with matched controls who did not fall. Patient falls were more likely to be associated with cognitive and hospital environmental factors than actual amount of walking.
Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77555-0460, USA. stfisher@utmb.edu
Steve R
SR
Fisher
Rebecca V
RV
Galloway
Yong-Fang
YF
Kuo
James E
JE
Graham
Kenneth J
KJ
Ottenbacher
Glenn V
GV
Ostir
James S
JS
Goodwin
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D003221:Confusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*