Determinants of falls after stroke based on data on 5065 patients from the Swedish Väststroke and Riksstroke Registers

We aimed to identify determinants in acute stroke that are associated with falls during the stroke unit stay. In order to enable individualized preventive actions, this knowledge is fundamental. Based on local and national quality register data on an unselected sample of 5065 stroke patients admitted to a stroke unit at a Swedish university hospital, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. The dependent variable was any fall during stroke unit stay. The independent variables related to function, activity, personal factors, time to assessment, comorbidities and treatments. Determinants of falls were: being male (odds ratio (OR) 2.25, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.79–2.84), haemorrhagic stroke (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05–1.86), moderate stroke symptoms according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS score 2–5 vs. NIHSS score 0–1) (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.08–1.90), smoking (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.29–2.25), impaired postural control in walking (OR 4.61, 95% CI 3.29–6.46), impaired postural control in standing (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.25–2.05), stroke-related arm- and hand problems, OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.11–1.91), impaired cognition (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.04–1.95), and urinary tract infection (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.43–2.56). The findings from this study are useful in clinical practice and might help to improve patient safety after stroke.