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Predictors of long‐term function in older community‐dwelling people who have presented to an emergency department after a fall: A cohort study
Author(s) -
Russell Melissa,
Hill Keith,
Day Lesley,
Oosterhuis Teddy,
Blackberry Irene,
Dharmage Shyamali C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12126
Subject(s) - emergency department , medicine , predictive validity , prospective cohort study , cohort , cohort study , balance (ability) , physical therapy , predictive value , gerontology , psychiatry , clinical psychology
Aim To identify factors predictive of function 12 months after a fall and emergency department ( ED ) presentation. Methods This was a prospective cohort study with 608 older people who had a fall. After presentation and discharge from the ED , a baseline assessment was initially undertaken and then repeated after 12 months. The Human Activity Profile Adjusted Activity Score ( HAP‐AAS ) at the 12‐month follow‐up assessment was the functional outcome measure. Results Over the follow‐up period, 37.3% (95% CI 33.4, 41.2) of participants declined in their HAP‐AAS score. Increased age, pre‐index fall functional impairment, poorer mobility/balance, and sustaining falls and severe injuries over the 12‐month follow‐up period were some of the factors predictive of a lower HAP‐AAS score. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of preventing falls in the 12 months after discharge from an ED . Some of the factors identified as being predictive of lower function are the same as those previously found to be predictive of falls.