Likelihood of Sustaining an Injury in the Setting of Multiple Falls.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between number of falls and risk of injury after a specific fall.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Greater New Haven, Connecticut.

PARTICIPANTS: Probability sample of 1,103 community-living persons aged 72 and older.

MEASUREMENTS: Falls and fall-related injuries were ascertained monthly for 3 years using a fall calendar and follow-up telephone interviews.

RESULTS: Of 606 participants with a fall, 164 (27.0%) had at least 1 fall with a serious injury, and 455 (75.1%) had at least 1 fall with any injury; mean number of falls was 2.6±2.3 (range 1-18), of falls with serious injury was 0.3±0.6 (range 0-4), and of falls with any injury was 1.4±1.4 (range 0-9). On a per-participant basis, risk of serious injury and any injury increased progressively as the number of falls increased (P < .001). On a per-fall basis, risk of serious injury and any injury increased from 1 to 2 falls but then decreased from 2 to 3 or 4 falls and from 3 or 4 to 5 or more falls, although these differences were not statistically significant. The results were consistent for women and men and for analyses that evaluated the proportion of falls with injuries.

CONCLUSION: In community-living older persons, risk of injury from a specific fall did not differ as the number of falls increased. Falls appear to operate independently in terms of conferring risk of injury in the setting of multiple falls.