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A clinical study on fall risk assessment and preventive nursing in older adults with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Xiaoli Liu1,2, Xujuan Xu3
1School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Background:
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a diverse group of lymphoproliferative malignancies that predominantly affects older adults. Chemotherapy remains the primary modality of treatment for many NHL subtypes, yet it often brings about adverse effects such as myelosuppression, anemia, and neuropathy, all of which contribute to a heightened risk of falls in older patients. Falls in this population can lead to serious complications, including fractures and intracranial injuries, thereby impacting functional status and potentially delaying oncological treatment.
Objective:
This study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of a structured, evidence-based preventive nursing protocol in reducing falls among older patients with NHL undergoing chemotherapy compared to standard care.
Methods:
A prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial enrolled 210 older patients (≥ 65 years) newly diagnosed with or relapsed NHL requiring chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to an Intervention Group-receiving a multifaceted preventive nursing program based on individualized risk assessment-or a Control Group that received standard oncology nursing. Primary outcomes included fall incidence and recurrence. Secondary outcomes encompassed fall-related injuries, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test performance, chemotherapy completion, and quality of life. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Of 210 participants enrolled, 194 (98 in the Intervention Group and 96 in the Control Group) completed the 12-week follow-up. The Intervention Group demonstrated a significantly lower fall incidence (7.1%) compared with the Control Group (19.8%, p = 0.012). Patients in the Intervention Group had fewer severe injuries, better chemotherapy adherence, improved functional mobility as measured by TUG tests, and higher quality of life scores.
Conclusion:
A targeted, multifactorial nursing intervention substantially reduced falls and fall-related complications among older adults with NHL receiving chemotherapy. Integration of fall prevention measures into routine oncologic care is strongly recommended to safeguard treatment continuity and patient well-being. Further multicenter and long-term studies are warranted to validate these findings and refine comprehensive fall prevention strategies.