Incidence of falls and fall-related injuries and their predictive factors in frail older persons with cancer: a multicenter study

Cindy Kenis, Lore Decoster, Johan Flamaing, Philip R. Debruyne, Inge De Groof, Christian Focan, Frank Cornélis, Vincent Verschaeve, Christian Bachmann, Dominique Bron, Heidi Van den Bulck, Dirk Schrijvers, Christine Langenaeken, Pol Specenier, Guy Jerusalem, Jean Philippe Praet, Jessie De Cock, Jean Pierre Lobelle, Hans Wildiers, Koen Milisen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Falls and fall-related injuries are a major public health problem. Data on falls in older persons with cancer is limited and robust data on falls within those with a frailty profile are missing. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and predictive factors for falls and fall-related injuries in frail older persons with cancer. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis from data previously collected in a large prospective multicenter observational cohort study in older persons with cancer in 22 Belgian hospitals (November 2012–February 2015). Patients ≥70 years with a malignant tumor and a frailty profile based on an abnormal G8 score were included upon treatment decision and evaluated with a Geriatric Assessment (GA). At follow-up, data on falls and fall-related injuries were documented. Results: At baseline 2141 (37.2%) of 5759 included patients reported at least one fall in the past 12 months, 1427 patients (66.7%) sustained an injury. Fall-related data of 3681 patients were available at follow-up and at least one fall was reported by 769 patients (20.9%) at follow-up, of whom 289 (37.6%) fell more than once and a fall-related injury was reported by 484 patients (62.9%). Fear of falling was reported in 47.4% of the patients at baseline and in 55.6% of the patients at follow-up. In multivariable analysis, sex and falls history in the past 12 months were predictive factors for both falls and fall-related injuries at follow-up. Other predictive factors for falls, were risk for depression, cognitive impairment, dependency in activities of daily living, fear of falling, and use of professional home care. Conclusion: Given the high number of falls and fall-related injuries and high prevalence of fear of falling, multifactorial falls risk assessment and management programs should be integrated in the care of frail older persons with cancer. Further studies with long-term follow-up, subsequent impact on cancer treatment and interventions for fall prevention, and integration of other important topics like medication and circumstances of a fall, are warranted. Trial registration: B322201215495.

Original languageEnglish
Article number877
JournalBMC Geriatrics
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Fall-related injuries
  • Falls
  • Frailty
  • Geriatric assessment
  • Older persons

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