Citation

Koç Z, Memiş A, Sağlam Z. Acta Clin. Croat. 2020; 59(2): 199-208.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Klinička bolnica "Sestre milosrdnice" : Institut za kliničko-medicinska istrazivanja u Zagrebu)

DOI

10.20471/acc.2020.59.02.01

PMID

33456105

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of falls, their etiology and risk factors in neurological patients admitted to the hospital in northern Turkey. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. Data were collected by survey that identified socio-demographic and clinical features of the subjects, Hendrich II fall risk model and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Study results revealed approximately one-third of the study patients (33.1%) to have sustained falls before. Concerning the timing of falls, 24.9% of these incidents had occurred within the last year. The most common reason for falling was dizziness (14.3%). The mean score on the Hendrich II fall risk model was 2.7±0.1 for those who had fallen and 2.3±0.1 for those who had not fallen. The respective mean BBS score was 20.7±1.9 and 18.4±1.3. It was found that approximately one-third of neurological patients had fallen before and had restricted their activities due to fear of falls; the great majority of them had a chronic disease and permanently used medicines; and the most important risk factors for falls were advanced age, fear of falls and impaired balance.

Language: en

Keywords

Prevention; Risk; Prevalence; Neurology; Fall; Balance; Etiology