SIMPLE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL-TESTS FOR THE ACCURATE PREDICTION OF FALLING IN OLDER-PEOPLE

A 1-year prospective study was conducted in an intermediate care insti tution to determine whether a combined assessment of physiological and clinical measures discriminates between elderly fallers and elderly n onfallers. Seventy persons aged between 72 and 96 years (mean 85.6), w ho were generally independent in activities of daily living, took part in the study, and 66 were available to follow-up. In the follow-up ye ar, 24 subjects experienced no falls, 20 subjects fell one time only a nd 22 residents fell on two or more occasions. Discriminant analysis i dentified reaction time, body sway, quadriceps strength, tactile sensi tivity, gait impairment, cognitive impairment, psychoactive drug use a nd age as the variables that significantly discriminated between subje cts who experienced falls and those who did not. This procedure correc tly classified 86% of subjects into faller and nonfaller groups. These findings suggest that an assessment that combines physiological and c linical factors provides excellent discrimination between elderly fall ers and nonfallers.