Life Sciences & Biomedicine Ophthalmology Science & Technology
PURPOSE: To characterize the locations, circumstances, and outcomes of falls in patients with varying degrees of glaucoma.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.
METHODS: Patients with suspected or diagnosed glaucoma completed monthly calendars reporting falls. After each fall, a 30-item questionnaire was administered to determine fall location, circumstances, and injury. Mean deviation on visual field (VF) testing was used to categorize glaucoma severity. Main outcome measures were fall locations, circumstances, and outcomes.
RESULTS: One-hundred forty-two patients experienced 330 falls. Falls were most likely to occur in/around the home (71%), and this likelihood did not vary significantly with severity of VF damage (P>.2). The most commonly cited fall circumstances were tripping (43.6%), slipping (31.3%), uneven flooring (23.5%), and poor vision (15.9%). The circumstances related to falls did not vary by severity of VF damage (P>.2), except for poor vision, which was more frequently cited in individuals with more advanced VF damage (P=.001). Forty-three percent of falls resulted in some injury; and the likelihood of injury did not vary by severity of VF loss (P=.60) or any other factor except floor type and number of comorbidities (P<.05 for all). Falls in persons with more severe glaucoma were more likely to result in a fracture (9.4%) or an emergency room visit (18.8%), though these associations did not persist in multivariable models (P>.5 for all).
CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma patients fall mostly in/around the home and demonstrate similar fall circumstances across the spectrum of disease severity, suggesting that current fall prevention interventions, particularly those emphasizing home modification, may be an adequate starting point to prevent falls in this high-risk group. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Locations, Circumstances, and Outcomes of Check. Falls in Patients With Glaucoma
Creators
Ayodeji E. Sotimehin - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Andrea V. Yonge - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Aleksandra Mihailovic - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Sheila K. West - Johns Hopkins Medicine
David S. Friedman - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Laura N. Gitlin - Drexel University
Pradeep Y. Ramulu - Johns Hopkins University
Publication Details
American journal of ophthalmology, v 192
Publisher
Elsevier
Number of pages
11
Grant note
EY022976 / NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA
R01EY022976 / NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Eye Institute (NEI)
Resource Type
Journal article
Language
English
Academic Unit
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Web of Science ID
WOS:000441226900020
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85047920008
Other Identifier
991019168752404721
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