Fall predictors in older cancer patients: a multicenter prospective study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Falls are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly.
• Limited data exists on falls in older cancer patients.
• Identifying fall predictors is crucial for preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess fall occurrence in older cancer patients post-treatment decision.
• To identify predictors of falls within 2-3 months of cancer treatment decision.

Main Methods:

• Included older patients (≥70 years) with a cancer treatment decision.
• Baseline geriatric screening (G8, Flemish Triage Risk Screening Tool) and assessment.
• Follow-up questionnaires collected data at 2-3 months; univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• 17.6% of patients fell within 2-3 months; 51.4% experienced recurrent falls.
• Predictors of falls included: prior fall history (OR=3.926), fatigue (OR=0.380), ADL dependency (OR=0.492), G8 score (OR=0.471), and living alone (OR=1.631).
• Baseline fall history was a significant predictor of future falls.

Conclusions:

• Falls pose a serious risk to older cancer patients.
• Geriatric screening and assessment effectively identify patients at risk of falling.
• Intervention for identified risk factors is essential to prevent fall-related injuries.