Clinical Interventions in Aging (Jul 2024)

Demographic Comparisons of Self-Reported Fall Risk Factors Among Older Adults Attending Outpatient Rehabilitation

  • Wingood M,
  • Kiyoshi-Teo H,
  • Scott AJ,
  • Caulley JM,
  • Wilson BS,
  • Council SK,
  • Vincenzo JL

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 19
pp. 1287 – 1300

Abstract

Read online

Mariana Wingood,1,* Hiroko Kiyoshi-Teo,2,* Aaron J Scott,3,* Jamie M Caulley,4,* Brian S Wilson,4,* Sarah K Council,3,* Jennifer L Vincenzo5,* 1Department of Implementation Science, Department of Internal Medicine/Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; 2School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; 3Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Springdale, AR, USA; 4Rehabilitation Services, Providence St. Joseph Health, Portland, OR, USA; 5Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jennifer L Vincenzo, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus, 1125 N College Ave, Fayetteville, AR, 72703, USA, Email [email protected]: Identify the prevalence and prevalence differences of fall risk factors by sex, clinic rurality, and race/ethnicity among older adults (≥ 65 years old) receiving outpatient rehabilitation.Patients and Methods: Our secondary analysis used Electronic Health Record data of 108,751 older adults attending outpatient rehabilitation (2018– 2022) within a large health system across 7 states and completed the Stay Independent Questionnaire. The mean age was 73.3 (± 6.36), 58.1% were female, 84.3% were non-Hispanic White, and 88.8% attended an urban clinic. Fall risks were identified via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Stay Independent Questionnaire.Results: Older adults had a high prevalence of fall risks (44.3%), including history of falls (34.9%). The most prevalent fall-risk factors were impaired strength, gait, and balance. Compared to males, females had a higher prevalence of reporting a fall (4.3%), a fall with injury (9.9%), worrying about falling 9.1%), rushing to the toilet (8.5%), trouble stepping onto a curb (8.4%), taking medicine for sleep or mood (6.0%), feeling sad or depressed (5.3%), and feeling unsteady (4.6%). Males reported a higher prevalence of losing feeling in feet (9.4%), ≥ 1 fall in the past year (8.1%), and using hands to stand up (4.4%). Compared to White older adults, Native American/Alaska Natives had the highest prevalence of fall history (43.8%), Hispanics had the highest prevalence of falls with injury (56.1%), and Hispanics and Blacks had a higher prevalence of reporting 11/12 Stay Independent Questionnaire risk factors.Conclusion: Older adults receiving outpatient rehabilitation have a high prevalence of fall risks, including falls and difficulties with strength, balance, or gait. Findings indicate that rehabilitation providers should perform screenings for these impairments, including incontinence and medication among females, loss of feeling in the feet among males, and all Stay Independent Questionnaire -related fall risk factors among Native American/Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and Blacks.Keywords: STEADI, injury prevention, geriatrics, physical therapy, health disparities, social determinants of health

Keywords