Risk factors for traumatic brain injuries during falls in older persons

Hei Fen Hwang, Chui Hsuan Cheng, Ding Kuo Chien, Wen Yu Yu, Mau Roung Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) during falls in older Taiwanese people. Participants: Case patients consisted of 113 patients aged 60 years or older with a moderate/severe TBI due to a fall. Two control groups: (1) 339 older patients with a soft-Tissue injury; and (2) 113 with a mild-TBI due to a fall. Proxies were required to provide information for a considerable number of patients. Design: Matched case-control study. Settings: The emergency departments of 3 general hospitals. Measures: Sociodemographic, lifestyle behavior, chronic condition, medication use, functional abilities, and fall-related characteristics. Results: When patients with a soft-Tissue injury were assigned to the control group, men were 2.06-fold more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than women. Subjects who took antiarrhythmics within 4 hours of a fall were 2.59-fold more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than those who took none. Subjects who were negotiating stairs and getting in/out of the bed/chair were 3.12-fold and 2.97-fold, respectively, more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than those who fell while walking. Falling backward and sideways was 4.07-fold and 2.30-fold, respectively, more likely to cause a moderate/severe TBI than falling forward. When patients with a mild-TBI were assigned to the control group, results were similar, with the exception that the effect of antiarrhythmic use became nonsignificant and subjects who took 2 or more medications were 3.07-fold more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than those who took none. Conclusion: Avoiding a head impact during a backward or sideways fall, reducing unnecessary use of polypharmacy and antiarrhythmics, and maintaining safety during stair negotiation and bed/chair transfer may protect an elderly person from a severe brain injury.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E9-E17
JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
Volume30
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 3 2015

Keywords

  • fall mechanism
  • falls
  • older people
  • risk factor
  • traumatic brain injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Risk factors for traumatic brain injuries during falls in older persons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this