title: In-hospital predictors of falls in community-dwelling individuals after stroke in the first 6 months after a baseline evaluation: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine predictors of falls in stroke patients in the first 6 months after a baseline evaluation before their discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation hospital, then home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive stroke patients (N=66) were followed at home after discharge from the rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fall occurrence within 6 months after a baseline evaluation. All patients were assessed for baseline data during their inpatient rehabilitation (1.5±1.2 wk before discharge). Data regarding cerebrovascular accident (CVA) date, number of attacks, and brain imaging results were obtained; motor function and balance impairment were examined by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale. The FIM and Functional Ambulation Category were also used. Presence of urinary incontinence, drug use, fall history, postural hypotension, neglect, cognitive status, poor vision, and hearing were evaluated. Six months after the baseline evaluation, any fall occurrence was ascertained via telephone calls to the caregivers of each patient. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age ± SD was 64±10 years. The median time elapsed since CVA at the time of admission was 4 months. Twenty-four (36%) patients fell within the 6-month period. The fall rate was significantly higher in patients with left (47%) versus right (21%) hemispheric stroke. Left hemispheric lesion (vs right) showed a 4 times greater risk of fall within 6 months (odds ratio=4.093; 95% confidence interval, 1.082-15.482). There were no other significant differences between fallers and nonfallers with respect to the other evaluated factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the fall risk within 6 months after a baseline evaluation is greater in patients with left hemispheric lesions versus those with right hemispheric lesions.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ealemdaroglu@gmail.com
authors: Ebru
authors: E
authors: Alemdaroğlu
authors: Halil
authors: H
authors: Uçan
authors: Aslı Mete
authors: AM
authors: Topçuoğlu
authors: Filiz
authors: F
authors: Sivas
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012723:Sex; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*