Risk of falling in patients with a recent fracture

Table 1 Characteristics of Study Population

Characteristic	Total group (n = 277)		Fallers (n = 42)		Non fallers (n = 235)		p-value
	%	n	%	n	%	n
Sex (female)	72	200	88	37	69	163	0.013*
Age, mean (range) years	67.1 (50–91) ^†		69.9 (51–86)^†		66.6 (50–91)^†		0.069
Living at home	93	254	91	38	94	216	0.478
Low energy trauma	89	246	100	42	87	204	0.012*
Bone Mineral Density ^§
Normal (Tscore > -1)	24	61	19	7	25	54	0.438
Osteopenia (Tscore ≤ -1 and > -2.5)	47	119	47	17	47	102	0.945
Osteoporosis (Tscore ≤ -2.5)	29	72	33	12	28	60	0.323
Weight, mean (range) kg	71.8 (40–120)^†		71.9 (45–115)^†		71.8 (40–120)^†		0.945
Fracture type
Upper extremity	43	119	36	15	44	104	0.430
Lower extremity	48	134	57	24	47	110	0.305
Trunk	5	15	5	2	6	13	0.922
Multiple fractures	3	9	2	1	3	8	0.899
Diabetes	17	47	24	10	16	37	0.200
Orthostatic hypotension **	12	33	19	8	11	25	0.235
Medication
Antihypertensive	32	89	41	17	31	72	0.337
Benzodiazepines	9	26	14	6	9	20	0.473
Antidepressive	9	26	12	5	9	21	0.750
Anti-rheumatics	5	13	7	3	4	10	0.649
Fall risk factors
Mobility (TGUGT)^‡	59	164	71	30	57	134	0.080
≥2 falls in previous year^‡	30	84	43	18	28	66	0.055
Use of benzodiazepines^‡	10	28	10	4	10	24	0.891
ADL difficulties^‡	31	85	50	21	27	64	0.003*
Osteoarthritis^‡	34	95	31	13	35	82	0.620
Visual impairment^‡	18	50	24	10	17	40	0.292
Urinary incontinence^‡	18	50	29	12	16	38	0.054
Parkinson's disease^‡	1	2	0	0	1	2	0.548

* significant: p < .05
^§ results of 252 subjects
** (20 mmHg drop in systolic BP and/or 10 mmHg drop in diastolic BP 1 minute after standing)
^†Mean (range)
^‡Fall risk factor according to the Dutch guideline on fall prevention (TGUGT: Timed Get Up and Go Test: cut off at 12 seconds; ADL difficulties: fall risk if he or she had difficulties with a least two out of the three following questions of Gronigen Activity Restriction Scale: a) Can you, fully independently, go up and down the stairs; b) Can you, fully independently, walk outdoors (if necessary with a cane); and c) Can you, fully independently, take care of your feet and toenails?; Visual impaiment: cut off at visual acuity less than 0.4;

ISSN: 1471-2474