Published Work by AGEM Members

AGEM Author Spotlight: Fernanda Bellolio, MD, MS  Department of Emergency Medicine at Mayo Clinic

Risk of falls is associated with 30-day mortality among older adults in the emergency department

Our study involved 941 patients aged 75 years and older who were assessed for fall risk using the Memorial Emergency Department Fall Risk Assessment Tool (MEDFRAT). The patients were classified into low, moderate, and high fall risk groups. The 30-day mortality rates were 3.1% for the low-risk group, 6.0% for the moderate-risk group, and 11.8% for the high-risk group. The mortality rate for the high fall risk group was four times that of the low fall risk group (HR 4.00, 95% CI 2.18 to 7.34, p <0.001).

We concluded that fall risk assessment in the emergency department is associated with 30-day all-cause mortality. Screening may facilitate the stratification of older adults at risk for health deterioration.

This study is relevant to geriatric emergency medicine as it highlights the relationship of fall risk assessments in predicting all-cause mortality among older adults. There is overlap in geriatric syndromes and fall risk assessments serve as a risk stratification strategy in the ED for older adults.  Use your ED's fall risk assessment to better identify adults who are at risk and will benefit of targeted interventions for overall improved outcomes.