Citation

Puts MT, Monette J, Girre V, Wolfson C, Monette M, Batist G, Bergman H. Support. Care Cancer 2013; 21(3): 775-783.

Affiliation

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Suite 130, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5T 1P8, martine.puts@utoronto.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Springer International)

DOI

10.1007/s00520-012-1579-4

PMID

22941117

Abstract

PURPOSE: Little is known about the incidence of falls in cancer patients receiving cancer treatment. The aims were to explore the number of falls older adults report in the 6 months after cancer diagnosis, and if those with a fall were more frail than those who did not fall. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of a prospective pilot study that recruited patients aged 65 and older with a new cancer diagnosis. At each interview (baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up), participants were asked if they had a fall in the previous 3 months. The frailty markers and functional status were obtained at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up. Chi-square and t tests were used to compare those who had a fall to those who had no fall. Univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between sociodemographic and health characteristics and reporting a fall. RESULTS: Seventeen participants (18.7 %) reported one or more falls in the first 6 months after cancer diagnosis. Fifteen participants reported one or more falls in the 3 months prior to the cancer diagnosis. Those who had a fall and those with no fall were not different in terms of health and functioning. None of the sociodemographic and health characteristics including the frailty markers were associated with a fall. CONCLUSION: A fall is common in cancer patients. More research is needed to examine the risk factors for a fall in older adults receiving cancer treatment.

Language: en