Falls Flashcards
What are the 7 categories of causes of falls?
Environment, medication, cardiovascular, acute medical, chronic disease, others
What are the environmental causes?
Poor lighting, rugs, stairs, pets, incorrect walking aids
What are the 4 classes of drugs that cause falls?
Psychotropic (sedatives, opiates, antidepressants), antihypertensives, antiarrhythmia, Parkinson’s drugs
What are the cardiovascular causes?
Syncope( vasovagal carotid sinus hypersensitivity), arrhythmia, valvular disease, aortic stenosis, HCOM, IHD
What are the acute medical causes?
Infection (Chest, urine,skin), Electrolyte imbalance (hypoNa, hypoK, HyperCa), Hypothyroidisim, Hypoglycaemia, delirium
What are the chronic diseases that cause falls?
Neurological (stroke, Parkinson, cervical spondylotic myelopathy), Musculoskeletal (OA, RA)
Other
Vision- cataract, macular degeneration, visual fields
Incontinence
Cognitive impairment- AD, VD
Alcohol
What is fear of falling?
Look at cycle on pg44
What should you ask in the history of falls?
pg 45
What should you look for in the examination?
pg 45 & pg46
What investigations will you perform?
pg 46
Who is involved in the management of falls?
pg 47
Who should be referred to falls clinics?
Older people who present to medical attention after a fall, who report recurrent falls, who have problems with their walking and balance
What are the interventions should in falls clinics?
Strength and balance retraining and transfer skills training
Reduction in psychotropic medication use
Reduction in home hazards
Treatment of CV risk factors (OH,bradycardia)
What exercise programme that can be recommended to patients?
Otago exercise programme (pg 48)
