Epidemiology and Cost of Falls in Veterans With a Spinal Cord Injury

April 6, 2015 updated by: US Department of Veterans Affairs

Epidemiology and Cost of Falls in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury

Brief Summary Detailed Description Background: A multitude of risk factors for falling has been reported for the elderly, however many of these risk factors are not applicable to persons with a spinal cord injury, who use a wheelchair for mobility. The objectives of this study are to: (1) describe the incidence and prevalence of tips, falls, and fall-related injuries in SCI; (2) describe the epidemiology of the fall event (person, time, place, and activity); (3) describe any injuries associated with a fall, including the mechanism and nature of the injury, severity of injury, as well as treatment required; (4) determine the risk factors related to falls and fall-related injuries in SCI, and develop a model for predicting falls and fall-related injuries in SCI; (5) determine healthcare utilization as well as direct and indirect costs associated with fall-related injuries in SCI; and (6) describe patient-perceived short- and long-term consequences of falls in SCI. The data collection for this study was completed on March 31, 2007, and data analysis is in final phase.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to describe: (1) the incidence and prevalence of wheelchair tips, falls, and fall-related injuries; (2) epidemiology of event; (3) injuries associated with event, including mechanism, nature, severity of injury and treatment required; (4) determine risk factors and develop a model for predicting tips and falls; (5) determine healthcare utilization and direct and indirect costs; and (6) describe perceived short- and long-term consequences of falls in SCI.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Data was collected through patient surveys, medical records, and VA databases. Baseline information includes risk factors (e.g., user characteristics, wheelchair features, wheelchair activities, etc.) and physical environmental data. Monthly follow-up calls tracked tips, falls, and injuries.

Status: Recruitment ended on April 1, 2006 with a total of 702 subjects, and data collection was completed on March 31, 2007. The Data Safety Monitoring Board for this study conducted its final meeting on September 17, 2007. Data has been analyzed and 17 manuscripts are currently in development.

Impact: While much is known about falls in elderly, there is a lack of understanding of the epidemiology of wheelchair-related falls. Our project is expected to identify previously unaccounted for factors that predispose persons with SCI to falls and fall-related injuries. This study will result in the creation of a model for predicting falls and fall-related injuries in SCI. The predictive model will be used to develop intervention strategies targeting modifiable risk factors. Eventually, we will test this predictive model with other vulnerable veteran populations. Findings from this study wil be used to develop an instrument to identify fall risk in persons with SCI.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Of the 702 patients enrolled, 659 subjects provided data for follow up analysis. The primarily male (96%) population was 55 + 13 years old, and had their SCI for an average of 21 + 13 years. 47% of the injury levels were cervical and 46% thoracic. The majority of subjects used manual wheelchairs (62%) an average of 10.9 + 4.3 hours a day. 553 fall events were reported by 204 individuals. 95 (14%) subjects were injured as a result of the fall. Regression models showed that fall occurrence was predicted by increased pain in past two months, increased alcohol use, higher FIM sub-motor scores, having a previous fall, shorter wheelchair length, fewer years of SCI, and not having one's first wheelchair. Injurious falls were predicted by increased pain in past two months, higher FIM sub-motor scores, having a previous fall, non-flat home entrance and a diagnosis of arthritis. In both models, 83% of the variance was explained by the predictors. Additional analysis is planned for completion of manuscripts. In addition, funding was received to develop a risk assessment tool for falls from wheelchairs in SCI.

Final analyses are being conducted and 17 manuscripts are currently in development.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

702

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612
        • James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL
    • Georgia
      • Augusta, Georgia, United States, 30904
        • Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA
    • Massachusetts
      • Brockton, Massachusetts, United States, 02301
        • VA Boston Healthcare System Brockton Campus, Brockton, MA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

spinal cord injury population

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Must be a veteran with a spinal cord injury and use a wheelchair as primary means of mobility.

Exclusion Criteria:

Spinal cord injury less than 2 years. Use of mobility device other than wheelchair as primary means of mobility. Incomplete injury that does not warrant use of a wheelchair. Ventilator dependent. On bedrest for more than 30 days.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Group 1
cohort is of individuals with a spinal cord injury who use a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
tips and falls from wheelchairs
Time Frame: one year
one year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2004

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2006

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 1, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

July 13, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 7, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2015

Last Verified

July 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IIR 03-003

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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