Association between fear of falling and a history of falls in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis

Abstract

Introduction: Hemodialysis patients have complications that increase fear of falling (FOF). This study evaluated the association between FOF and a retrospective history of falls in hemodialysis patients and investigated the ability of the Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) to discriminate fallers from nonfallers.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with 183 patients to investigate the history of falls in the last 12 months and to evaluate FOF by the FES-I.

Results: The univariate linear regression model showed that the FES-I score was significantly associated with a history of falls (p = 0.01). After adjustment for potential confounders, this association remained significant (R² = 0.19, p < 0.001). The FES-I score showed an area under the curve of 0.660 with a cutoff point of 25 (sensitivity-61.8%; specificity-62.2%).

Conclusion: FOF was associated with a history of falls in the 12-month period in hemodialysis patients, and FOF assessed by the FES-I was able to discriminate fallers from nonfallers.

Keywords: accidental falls; chronic kidney failure; fear; renal dialysis.