Characteristics and Risk Factors of Patient Falls in a High-Complexity Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia

Introduction

Intrahospitalary falls are among the national and international priorities in terms of quality of care. Although intrinsic and extrinsic elements have been recognized with patient falls, in Colombia there is a lack of evidence in this regard. The objective is to characterize the falls of patients that occurred between 2013 and 2016, and their associated factors in a high complexity hospital in Bogotá, Colombia.

Methods

Retrospective observational study based on the registry of falls that occurred during the analyzed period in a high complexity hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were performed.

Results

Of 951 falls that occurred between 2013 and 2016, 63.1% were classified as adverse events. According to the severity, 54.2% were "moderate" and "severe". According to patient sample, 53.0% were men, 65.5% were 65 or older (median=71 years, minimum=16 years, maximum=98 years), and 23.2% had circulatory disease. It was associated with an increased risk for a fall that culminated in an adverse event: being a woman (IC95%=1.08-1.87), night shift (IC95%OR=1.09-2.03), and clinical (95%CI=1.36-4.84) ​​and surgical specialties (95%CI=1.14-4.46).

Conclusion

Patient falls are an important adverse event of intervening in hospital institutions. Intrinsic elements were identified, mainly age, and extrinsic elements, the work shift and the medical specialty, related to the probability of causing harm to the patient in the event of a fall.