[Fear of falling in a fall clinic for geriatric patients: a pilot study]

In this pilot study we want to determine how often fear of falling occurs in geriatric patients visiting a fall clinic and to study the characteristics of fear of falling and its consequences.

Retrospective study of patient's records.

A random sample of 100 medical records of geriatric patients of the fall clinic of the Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis in Den Bosch was systematical examined.

The mean age of the patients was 79.8 +/- 6 years. Before visiting the fall clinic, the patients had a history of falling during 34.6 months, and 62% of them visited a hospital due to the consequences of falling. In the fall clinic a mean number of 2.5 probable causes per fall was diagnosed. In this study 31% of the patients had fear of falling. The demographic characteristics and the causes of falling of the patients with or without fear of falling, were almost the same. Patients with fear of falling had a hip prothesis in 26%, whereas patients without fear of falling only in 7% had a hip prothesis (P < 0.05). In patients with fear of falling, in 90% extra diagnostic investigation was needed, whereas in patients without fear of falling extra diagnostic investigation only occurred in 53% (P < 0.01). Finally, patients with fear of falling needed 1.8 more times physical therapy compared to patients without fear of falling (P < 0.01).

After a fall, fear of falling occurs often in geriatric patients. In this study, no causes for fear of falling could be determinated, although hip prothesis are associated with fear of falling. In patients with fear of falling more medical consumption occurs. In medical practice as in science fear of falling needs more attention.