Elderly African-Americans living in urban settings can have poor recovery after falls in the community. Risk factors for poor recovery can help identify those needing additional interventions to reduce morbidity.
Population: African Americans 65 years of age or older living in Philadelphia. The patients were evaluated 2 months after fall injury. If poor recovery noted at 2 months, a followup interview was made at 7 months after the fall injury.
Risk Factor for Poor Short Term Recovery
Odds Ratio (95% CI)
grandchildren living in household (if female)
3.3 (1.1 - 9.5)
hearing impairment
2.6 (1.3 - 5.5)
leg injury
2.4 (1.01 - 5.7)
severity of injury, AIS 1
2.5 (0.3 - 25.6)
severity of illness, AIS 2
5.2 (0.5 - 50.4)
severity of illness, AIS 3 or 4
10.2 (0.9 - 113.5)
where:
• AIS = abbreviated injury scale (AIS 1 = minor injury such as fracture of digit or a soft tissue injury, AIS 2 = moderate injury such as fracture of long bone such as femur or humerus, AIS 3 or 4 = major trauma)
Factor associated with Good Short Term Recovery
Odds Ratio (95% CI)
help present at fall
0.5 (0.3 - 1.0)
previous difficulty in activities of daily living (one or more)
0.3 - 0.5
where:
• difficulties in activities of daily living include: difficulty going up or down stairs, walking one block or more, walking across a room, standing for a long period, or bending over
Risk factors for poor long term recovery:
(1) grandchildren living in household (if female)
(2) hearing impairment
(3) leg injury
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
