[Analysis of fall risk factors in adults within the first 48 hours of hospitalization].

OBJECTIVE To analyze fall risk factors in the first 48 hours of hospitalization and to associate them with the occurrence of falls. METHOD Cohort study conducted at a hospital in Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil. A sample of 556 patients from an adult in-patient study population were evaluated within the first 48 hours of hospitalization for factors associated with falls, based on the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) and muscle strength, among others. RESULTS Evidence showed that the classification of high-risk according to the MFS and, more specifically, the items history of falls, ambulatory aid, impaired gait and overestimation of walking ability, were associated with falls during hospitalization (p≤0.005). In addition to these risk factors, reduced muscle strength and visual deficit also contributed to the occurrence of this safety incident CONCLUSION The analysis of fall risk factors in patients evaluated within 48 hours of hospitalization may contribute to minimizing these occurrences and preventing injury.