title: Falls in HIV-infected patients: a geriatric syndrome in a susceptible population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Falls is a common geriatric syndrome that has not been well characterized in HIV-infected populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed our database and identified patients who fell over the last 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two patients were identified (incidence rate of 16 × 1000 patients per year). Twenty-five percent were female and 75% male. Sixty-seven percent were African American with 33% Caucasians. Average age was 48.19, number of years with HIV infection on average was 9.38 years, mean CD4 count 347.2 cell/mm(3), mean HIV viral load was 31 379 copies/mL. The average number of medications was 8.7 with a mean of 3.48 comorbidities. The mean vitamin D level was 27.20. Sixty-two percent of patients were compliant with antiretroviral therapy. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that number of medications (< .005 medications; P < .005), more than 3 comorbidities (P < .005), and noncompliance (P < .001) were related to falls in this population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Falls is a common geriatric syndrome. Associated risk factors in our cohort included number of medications, more than 3 comorbidities, and noncompliance. Larger studies are needed to properly characterize this geriatric syndrome in HIV-infected patients. As HIV-infected populations age, a shift into a more comprehensive geriatrics care including fall risk evaluation may be needed.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA. mruiz@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Marco Andres
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reske
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cefalu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estrada
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: HIV; elderly; falls