Abstract
Physical function performance tests, including sit to stand tests and Timed Up and Go, assess the functional capacity of older adults. Their ability to predict falls warrants further investigation. The objective was to determine if a modified 30-second Sit to Stand test that allowed upper extremity use and Timed Up and Go test predicted falls in institutionalized Veterans. Fifty-three older adult Veterans (mean age = 91 years, 49 men) residing in a long-term care hospital completed modified 30-second Sit to Stand and Timed Up and Go tests. The number of falls over one year was collected. The ability of modified 30-second Sit to Stand or Timed Up and Go to predict if participants had fallen was examined using logistic regression. The ability of these tests to predict the number of falls was examined using negative binomial regression. Both analyses controlled for age, history of falls, cognition, and comorbidities. The modified 30-second Sit to Stand was significantly (p < 0.05) related to if participants fell (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval = 0.58, 0.97) and the number of falls (incidence rate ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.68, 0.98); decreased repetitions were associated with increased number of falls. Timed Up and Go was not significantly (p > 0.05) related to if participants fell (odds ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 0.96, 1.10) or the number of falls (incidence rate ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval = 0.98, 1.05). The modified 30-second Sit to Stand that allowed upper extremity use offers an alternative method to screen for fall risk in older adults in long-term care.
Highlights
Falls are the leading cause of accidental death and nonfatal injury in older adults [1,2]
Eighty potential participants were considered for the study
Sixty-two participants completed baseline testing but nine participants were deceased during the one year period after baseline
Summary
Falls are the leading cause of accidental death and nonfatal injury in older adults [1,2]. In short- and long-term care hospital settings, the prevalence of falls varies between 1 to 9 per 1000 beds per day with 30–50% of these falls causing injury [3,4]. Previous studies have investigated fall risk factors in order to identify older adults at risk of falling so that preventative interventions can be applied. Some risk factors for falls in older adults that have been reported include history of falls, over 80 years of age, comorbidities, generalized deconditioning, muscle weakness, and impaired cognition [6,7,8]. The ability to identify these risk factors can guide clinicians to which older adults should receive preventative interventions
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