Exploring Population Characteristics and Recruitment Challenges in Older People Experiencing Falls at Home without Hospitalization or with an Emergency Department Visit: Insights from the RISING-DOM Experience

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flowchart for participant recruitment and data collection.

Note: *Post-randomization data not available at this stage of the study and not included in the present analysis.

Abbreviations: EMS, Emergency Medical Service; ORU database, Emergency Observatory database; CRA, Clinical Research Associate.

Figure 2 Screening flowchart of EMS mean calls recorded in the Haute Garonne department for three-month period (January 2020, June 2020, and March 2021).

Abbreviations: EMS, Emergency Medical Service; CRA, Clinical Research Associate.

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of the 1151 Screened Older People Who Experienced a Fall at Home with No Hospitalization or with Hospitalization Less Than 24 Hours

	Total Screened Population n= 1151
	N	%
Age
Mean (std) 84.1 (6.9)
70–79	311	27
80–89	563	48.9
90<	277	24.1
Sex
Women	757	65.8
Men	394	34.2
Lifestyle (missing data N=121)
Living alone	456	44.3
Living with a partner/family	574	55.7

Table 2 Fall Characteristics of the 1151 Screened Older People Who Experienced a Fall at Home with No Hospitalization or with Hospitalization Less Than 24 Hours

	Total Screened Population n= 1151
	N	%
Time of fall (missing data N=105)
0h-4h	130	12.4
4h-8h	147	14.1
8h-12h	300	28.7
12h-16h	139	13.3
16h-20h	194	18.5
20h-24h	136	13.0
Location of fall (missing data N=27)
Bedroom	324	28.8
Hall	57	5.1
Kitchen	137	12.2
Entrance hall	13	1.2
Stairs	50	4.4
Immediate surroundings of the home (garden, terrace, balcony, lift, etc.)	163	14.5
Garage	11	1.0
Storage room	9	0.8
Bathroom	65	5.8
Living room	229	20.4
Toilet	60	5.3
Other	6	0.5
Activity prior to or during the fall (missing data N=91)
Handy work/gardening	38	3.6
Positional change (getting up, sitting down, bending over)	374	35.3
Using stairs	49	4.6
Using the toilet	6	0.6
Dressing/undressing	20	1.9
Eating	6	0.6
Walking	437	41.2
Grooming/Bathing	23	2.2
Housekeeping/daily routines	59	5.6
Other	48	4.5
Fall circumstances*
Accidental (including slipping, tripping over objects or animals)	772	75.5
Intrinsic reasons (arthrosis, vision impairment, muscle weakness, etc.)	130	12.7
Dizziness	105	10.3
Other	16	1.6
Person who called the EMS when fall happened (missing data N=14)
Home care service and domestic aid	54	4.7
Friend	18	1.6
Partner	322	28.3
Children	252	22.2
Faller	281	24.7
Other member of the family	55	4.8
Neighbor	60	5.3
Fall prevention device	77	6.8
Other	18	1.6
Fall severity (missing data N=13)
No physical injury	447	39.3
Minor injury (hematoma and wound without stitches)	434	38.1
Moderate injury (wound with stitches and fracture)	257	22.6
Fall consequences (missing data N=303)
No consequence	363	31.5
Activity restriction	307	26.7
Fear of falling	273	23.7
Pain	610	53
Difficulty to continue living in one’s home	21	1.8
Mood disorders, depression, sadness	109	9.5
Other	73	8.6

Notes: Reported N are “yes” responses. *Data collected based on the participant’s or the family/legal representative’s assessment.

Abbreviation: EMS, Emergency Medical Service.

Table 3 Previous Fall History and Related Consequences

	Total Screened Population n= 1151
	N (Missing Data)	%
Falls in the last 12 months	709 (187)	73.5
Number of falls (missing data N= 24)
1	214	31.2
2	124	18.1
3	126	18.4
4	61	8.9
5	33	4.8
5 to 10	71	10.4
10 to 20	35	5.1
20 and over	21	3.1
Injury-induced fall in the last 12 months	409 (8)	57.7
If injury happened:
Required visit to referring doctor	210	51.3
EMS use	273 (2)	66.7
ED visit	250 (1)	61.1
Hospitalization	81 (300)	11.4
Self-lift after falling	124 (12)	17.5
If not, remaining on the floor more than one hour	153 (23)	26.7
Specific measures taken to prevent future falls	445 (16)	62.8
Fall-preventive assistive devices (handrails for stairways)	155 (26)	34.8
Removing unsecured carpet	173 (26)	38.9
Walking aid	355 (12)	79.8
Using no-slip foot-wear	123 (46)	27.6
Other	114 (114)	25.6

Note: Reported N are “yes” responses.

Abbreviations: EMS, Emergency Medical Service; ED, Emergency Department.

Figure 3 UpSet plot analysis of fall prevention strategies adopted by individuals with a history of falls.