1 “THE GERIATRICS SYNDROME OF FALLS” Edmund Duthie, Jr, MD Professor of Medicine Chief, Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology Department of Medicine Medical College of Wisconsin UNT Health Science Center - Grand Rounds - May 25, 2011 Outline Define falls Introduce the AAMC student competencies related to falls Describe the epidemiology Provide a differential diagnosis Present interventions that can help with the management Summarize a clinical approach Definition Unintentional change in position that occurs in the absence of overwhelming intrinsic events such as syncope or overwhelming environmental hazards such as being hit by a car. Source: Tinetti AGS GRS 1991
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“THE GERIATRICS SYNDROME OF FALLS”
Edmund Duthie, Jr, MDProfessor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology
Department of Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
UNT Health Science Center -Grand Rounds - May 25, 2011
Outline
Define falls Introduce the AAMC student
competencies related to falls Describe the epidemiology Provide a differential diagnosis Present interventions that can help
with the management Summarize a clinical approach
Definition
Unintentional change in position that occurs in the absence of overwhelming intrinsic events such as syncope or overwhelming environmental hazards such as being hit by a car.
Source: Tinetti AGS GRS 1991
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MortalityFalls: #1 cause of accidental death in the elderly For persons age 75+ there is a 2x greater
risk of dying from falls than MVA. 70% of fall fatalities in the U.S. occur in
people aged 65+.
Death Rate:<65 1.5/100,000>65 147/100,000
Morbidity Fracture/serious trauma
15 - 20% of falls- should not be the major focus
Anxiety/fear of falling40 - 73% of fallers experience
this20 - 46% of non-fallers will
experience this Decreased activity
41 - 43% of fallers experience this
Don’t Kill Granny AAMC Geriatric Competencies for
Medical Students http://knowledgemap2.mc.vanderbilt.
edu/pogoe/node/472 What should a beginning PG1 know in
regard to geriatrics? 8 domains with 3-5 competencies in
each domain
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AAMC Domains1. Cognitive and behavioral disorders2. Medication management3. Self-care capacity4. Falls, balance, gait disorders5. Atypical presentation of disease6. Palliative care7. Hospital care for elders8. Health care planning and promotion
AAMC Domains
Falls, balance, gait disorders
Ask all patients over 65 about falls once in the last year
EpidemiologyLocation % of population Annual Fall incidences
who fall / year # / 1000 person days
Community 34% 772
Hospital 26% 1400
Long-Term Care 43% 1600
Source: Rubenstein Clin Ger Med 2002; 18:142-143.
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AAMC Domains
Falls, balance, gait disorders
In a patient who has fallen, construct a
differential diagnosis and evaluation
plan that address the multiple
etiologies identified by history, physical
examination, and functional assessment
“I can assess an older adult patient’s fall risk, identify underlying causative factors, and make recommendations for further evaluation and initial management”
Prepared by Office of Educational Services
Results: Tag Along 2010
June July Total
Total M3 students observed
23 15 38
Patient interactions observed
75 36 111
Patients age 65 or older 19 (25%) 12 (33%) 31 (28%)
• Response rate: 53% in June, 17% in July
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Results: Tag Along 2010June July Total
Total M3 students observed 23 15 38
Patient interactions observed 75 36 111
Patients age 65 or older 19 (25%) 12 (33%) 31 (28%)
Assessed gait 5 (26%) 1 (8%) 6 (19%)
Asked about falls* 9 (47%) 1 (8%) 10 (32%)
Explored fall etiology 6 (75%) 1 (100%) 7 (78%)
Created plan for fallers 2 (25%) 0 (0%) 2 (22%)
* 9 of 10 who were asked about falls reported a fall in the prior year Statistics: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = .72
Accidental : environment
vs.
Intrinsic: diseases
Cause of Falls (12 Studies)
Source: Rubenstein Clin Ger Med 2002; 18:146
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Falls - other
Acute illness
Alcohol
Arthritis
Drugs
Epilepsy
Falling from Bed
Types of Environmental Problems
TripsSlipsMisjudging stepsOverreachingPoor light on stairsLoose slip rugsObstruction on floor
Management
Environmental assessment/home safety evaluation
Drug evaluationAlcohol history “CAGE”Sensory function (Host environment
interface)“Maladaptive” equipment: canes
walkerswheelchairs
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Drugs & FallsBenzodiazepines
Phenothiazines OR 2.83
Antidepressants
Antihypertensives ?
Antiarrhythmics ?
Anticonvulsants ?
Diuretics ?>4 drugs O.R.:4.5
Source: Ray WA et al NEJM 1987;316:363-9
Drugs OR for falls Systematic review and meta-analysis Psychotropic 1.73 Sedative/hypnotic 1.66 Antidepressant 1.51 Neuroleptic 1.50 Digoxin 1.22 Diuretic 1.08 ACE-I, CCB, Beta blockers NS Analgesics (incl opioids) NS
Source Leipzig et al JAGS 1999; 47:30-39 and 40-50
Interventions for Preventing Falls in Elderly People
Grab bars Hand rails on stairsNon skid mats Remove hazardsRaised toilet seats Safer furniture
Tinetti NEJM 1994,331 821-827
Does intervention work?
% Subjects falling over one year35% intervention fell
vs.47% control fell
75% reduction of total # of falls
66% reduction of falls per person/week
Tinetti NEJM 1994,331 821-827
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Interventions for Preventing Falls in Elderly People
Multifactorial interventions consist of more than one main category of intervention, but participants receive different combinations of interventions based on an individual assessment.
Reduced the rate of falls (15 Trials N=8141 RaR 0.75 [0.65-0.86]) but not the risk of falling (number of fallers).
Interventions for Preventing Falls in Elderly People
Exercise classes containing multiple components (i.e. a combination of two or more categories of exercise) achieved a statistically significant reduction in rate of falls[14 trials, N = 2364, RaR 0.78(95% CI 0.71 - 0.86)]