Geri: Falls & Frailty

Question 1

Risk Factors for
Falls:

Answer 1

Intrinsic factors:

-sensory loss
-chronic diseases
-medication exposure
-impaired balance and slow walking speed
-urinary incontinence

Question 2

What is fragility

Answer 2

Syndrome, characterised by LOSS OF RESERVES (energy, ability, cognition, health)

Question 3

Risk Factors for fragility

Answer 3

Abnormalities ACROSS SYSTEMS:

(haematological, inflammatory hormonal, adipose, neuromuscular, and micronutrient

Question 4

Is fragility a normal part of aging?

Answer 4

No.

A clinical syndrome resulting from multisystem impairments

Question 5

What is the Gold standard for definition fragility?

Answer 5

No gold standard

Question 6

Two most COMMON Definitions of Frailty

Answer 6

1. Frailty Phenotype
2. Frailty index

Question 7

What is the frailty phenotype?

Answer 7

1. Weight loss
2. Self reported exhaustion
3. Low energy
4. Slow gait speed
5. Weak grip strength

Question 8

Medications that increase risk of falls

Answer 8

-FRIDs (falls risk increasing drugs)
= CNS active drugs
= cardiovascular (reduce blood pressure)

2. Sedative drugs (benzo)
3. Anticholinergic drugs
4. Polypharmacy