Citation

Wijnia JW, Ooms ME, van Balen R. Prev. Med. 2006; 42(2): 154-157.

Affiliation

Geriatric Center and Nursing Home Antonius Binnenweg, Nieuwe Binnenweg 33, 3014 GC Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Nursing Home Slingedael, Dreischorstraat 85, 3086 PP Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2005.10.005

PMID

16297975

Abstract

OBJECTIVE.: We investigated the performance of the STRATIFY risk assessment for fall risk in nursing home patients. METHODS.: This prospective study was conducted at the nursing home Antonius Binnenweg in Rotterdam from June 1 to December 31, 2000. Subjects included newly admitted patients of whom a STRATIFY score was obtained. Patients were followed for falls during a person-week observation period of 13 weeks. Measurements were age, sex, admission category, STRATIFY score, length of stay and number of falls. RESULTS.: Of 120 patients (75 women, 45 men, average age 74.5 years), a STRATIFY score was available. Three months after admission 24 of these patients (20%) had died, 56 patients (47%) had been discharged and 40 (33%) still resided in the nursing home. Of the 120 patients included, 36 patients (30%) had fallen during the observation period. The risk of falling in the patient group with a STRATIFY score of 2 or more was 2.35 (95% confidence interval: 1.22, 4.52) times that of patients with a lower score. The sensitivity of the STRATIFY score was 50% (95% CI: 32, 67), specificity was 76.2% (95% CI: 65, 87.5). CONCLUSION.: The STRATIFY risk score of falls gave disappointing results in our setting.