Fall rates by specialties and risk factors for falls in acute hospital: A retrospective study

Falls are common adverse events in acute care hospitals, and about 25-50% of fallers suffer injuries. In acute care, fall rates range from 0.4-9 falls per 1000 patient days, varying among unit types, patient characteristics, and diseases. Several risk factors have been identified, including recent falls, age, reduced mobility, cognitive ability and polypharmacy. Several countries have become an aging society in which an increasing number of older patients need acute care. Therefore, the prevention of falls has become one of the most important aspects of patient safety.

This retrospective study aimed to explore adults' inpatient falls in a Finnish university hospital with several specialties. The objectives were to draw an overall picture of fall rates in Finnish acute care, and to model risk factors for falls including secondary diagnoses.

The study was conducted in a large university hospital in Finland. The data consisted of patients' electronic health records from 2014-2016 and included a total of 114,951 adult patients. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression model analysis was used to identify risk factors for falls and multiple imputation was used to missing data. The study reporting followed the STROBE guidelines.

A total of 841 falls were recorded, totalling 1.5 falls per 1000 patient days, and the rate of falls with injury was 0.4 per 1000 patient days. The regression model included the following risk factors: increasing old age, prolonged hospital stays, specialty of neurology, mode of arrival (emergency care and hospital transfer), no operation during hospital stays and secondary diagnoses such as dementia, pneumonia and alcohol abuse.

In acute care, falls occur most in patients with neurological diagnoses and least in surgical patients. Risk factors for falls include increasing age, emergency arrival, hospital transfer and prolonged hospital stay.

Educational interventions to improve healthcare professionals' competence and preventive interventions to avoid inpatient falls need to be prioritized in medical specialties with high fall rates.