OBJECTIVE: We investigated the performance of the STRATIFY risk assessment for fall risk in nursing home patients.METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at the nursing home Antonius Binnenweg in Rotterdam from June 1 to December 31, 2000. Subjects included newly admitted patients of whom a STRATIFY score was obtained. Patients were followed for falls during a person-week observation period of 13 weeks. Measurements were age, sex, admission category, STRATIFY score, length of stay and number of falls.RESULTS: Of 120 patients (75 women, 45 men, average age 74.5 years), a STRATIFY score was available. Three months after admission 24 of these patients (20%) had died, 56 patients (47%) had been discharged and 40 (33%) still resided in the nursing home. Of the 120 patients included, 36 patients (30%) had fallen during the observation period. The risk of falling in the patient group with a STRATIFY score of 2 or more was 2.35 (95% confidence interval: 1.22, 4.52) times that of patients with a lower score. The sensitivity of the STRATIFY score was 50% (95% CI: 32, 67), specificity was 76.2% (95% CI: 65, 87.5).CONCLUSION: The STRATIFY risk score of falls gave disappointing results in our setting.
Accidental Falls Aged