title: My older patient with cancer reports falls: What should I do?
abstract: Falling is one of the major geriatric syndromes, with a multi-factorial pathogenesis due to age-related changes, pathological conditions and environmental hazards. Such a multi-factorial syndrome needs a standardized approach aimed at identifying risk factors. A comprehensive loco-motor, gait and standing balance, cardiovascular and neurological assessment, as well as a drugs regimens review, should be part of the routinely approach. Modification of environmental hazards, exercise training, behavioral and pharmacological treatment of specific diseases which can be the leading cause of falls, should all be part of an individualized intervention. Particular attention should be paid in the evaluation of unexplained falls, which can mask hypotensive or arrhythmic syncope.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: aungar@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ungar
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafanelli
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: Cancer; Falls; Older patients; Syncope; Unexplained falls