Effect of a multifactorial fall-and-fracture risk assessment and management program on gait and balance performances and disability in hospitalized older adults: a controlled study
Osteoporosis International, 08/01/2012
Clinical Article
Trombetti A et al. – A multifactorial fall–and–fracture risk–based intervention program, applied in a dedicated geriatric hospital unit, was effective and more beneficial than usual care in improving physical parameters related to the risk of fall and disability among high–risk oldest old patients.
Methods- A controlled intervention study was conducted among 122 geriatric inpatients (mean ± SD age, 84 ± 7 years) admitted with a fall-related diagnosis.
- Among them, 92 were admitted to a dedicated unit and enrolled into a multifactorial intervention program, including intensive targeted exercise.
- Thirty patients who received standard usual care in a general geriatric unit formed the control group.
- Primary outcomes included gait and balance performances and the level of independence in ADL measured 12 ± 6 days apart.
- Secondary outcomes included length of stay, incidence of in-hospital falls, hospital readmission, and mortality rates.
- Compared to the usual care group, the intervention group had significant improvements in Timed Up and Go (adjusted mean difference [AMD] = -3.7s; 95 % CI = -6.8 to -0.7; P = 0.017), Tinetti (AMD = -1.4; 95 % CI = -2.1 to -0.8; P < 0.001), and Functional Independence Measure (AMD = 6.5; 95 %CI = 0.7-12.3; P = 0.027) test performances, as well as in several gait parameters (P < 0.05).
- Furthermore, this program favorably impacted adverse outcomes including hospital readmission (hazard ratio = 0.3; 95 % CI = 0.1-0.9; P = 0.02).
