Characteristics of the middle-age adult inpatient fall.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to describe characteristics of middle-age inpatients' (ages 45-64) fallers and their fall and fall injury risk factors. BACKGROUND Middle-age falls were 42-46% of inpatient falls. Studies related to inpatient falls have not targeted this population. METHODS A 439 retrospective chart review was performed. Middle-age fall and injury rates were compared with ages 21-44 and 65-90. RESULTS The mean age was 55.75years (SD 5.26). 28.7% (n=126) of falls resulted in injury. Individual fallers (n=386) had a mean of four comorbidities (SD 1.843), including hypertension (46.5%), anxiety/depression (40.2%), and alcohol and drug abuse (32.9%). There was no significant difference (p=.637) in fall rates per 1,000 patient days between ages 45-64 and 65-90. CONCLUSION Middle-age inpatients' acute illness makes them as vulnerable for fall and injury as the older population. They should not be overlooked for fall prevention measures.