Risk factors associated with falls and fall-related injuries among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

Libak Abou, Laura A. Rice

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries for wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Community setting. Participants: Fifty-nine community dwelling wheelchair users (N=59), 47.5% male, median age of 52.5 years (IQR, 21 years) with chronic SCI, median time since injury of 16.6 years (IQR, 27.3 years). Interventions: No intervention. Main Outcome Measures: Outcomes were incidence of falls and fall-related injuries. Participants reported on falls and fall-related injuries experienced in the previous 6 months. Independent variables were self-reported and performance-based measures. Self-reported measures included demographics, characteristics of SCI, fear of falling, psychological measures, functional independence, wheelchair skills, environmental barriers, quality of life, and community participation. Performance-based measures included transfer quality and sitting balance assessments. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing falls and fall-related injuries. Results: In total, 152 falls and 30 fall-related injuries were reported from a total of 37 fallers. After logistic regression analysis, the model with the greatest levels of clinical utility and discriminative ability for falls (sensitivity 81%; specificity 55%; area under the receiving operating characteristic curve [AUC] statistics=0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.86) included the variables of shorter time since SCI, high mobility level, and having received education on fall prevention. The model for fall-related injuries (sensitivity 79%; specificity 75%; AUC statistics=0.77; 95% CI, 0.59-0.96) included the variables of older male individual, lower physical health score, and having received education on fall prevention. Conclusions: The regression models presented may be used to identify wheelchair users with SCI at greater risk of falls and fall-related injuries. The findings may help to refer those in need to tailored fall and fall-related injury prevention programs. The findings presented in this study were based on a relatively small sample convenience; therefore, further prospective studies with a larger sample size are warranted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number100195
JournalArchives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • accidental falls
  • wound and injuries
  • risk factors
  • spinal cord injuries
  • wheelchair
  • Wheelchairs
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Rehabilitation
  • Accidental falls
  • Risk factors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Risk factors associated with falls and fall-related injuries among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this