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  • Title: A profile of elderly fallers referred for physiotherapy in the emergency department of a Dublin teaching hospital.
    Author: Crehan F, O'Shea D, Ryan JM, Horgan F.
    Journal: Ir Med J; 2013 Jun; 106(6):173-6. PubMed ID: 23909153.
    Abstract:
    Ireland has an ageing population and the elderly are over-represented in Emergency Departments (ED)--a quarter of these presentations resulting from falls. A prospective study design was employed using a convenience sample to profile elderly fallers referred for physiotherapy in ED. Forty-subjects were assessed over 14 weeks. Mean age was 84.88 years (s.d. 7.3) and 31 (77.5%) were female. All demonstrated slow walking speed and 26 (65%) demonstrated poor grip strength. A quarter of subjects reported fear of falling and 30 (75%) were classified as frail. Elderly fallers in ED are a frail group of socially vulnerable patients who demonstrate a risk of further falls. Osteoporosis had been diagnosed in 9 (22.5%) subjects--a low prevalence compared with international research, but 25 (62.5%) subjects had never had a DEXA scan. The prevalence of frailty in the sample of elderly fallers in this study was very high (75%).
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