Risk Factors Related to Falling in Patients after Stroke

The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with falling in post stroke patients. Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 561 neurology patients hospitalized for a stroke and divided into two groups: falling patients and non-falling patients. They referred to the Special Hospital for Cerebrovascular Diseases "Sveti Sava" in Belgrade, Serbia, from 2018- 2019. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine socio-economic factors associated with predictors of unmet healthcare needs. Results: A significant difference was seen in the length of hospitalization of falling patients compared to the non-falling (P<0.001). We established statistically significant differences in mental status (P<0.001), sensibility (P=0.016), depressed mood (P<0.001), early (P=0.001) and medium insomnia (P=0.042), psychomotor slowness (P=0.030), so-matic anxiety (P=0.044) and memory (P<0.001). Conclusion: Cerebrovascular disease distribution and the degree of neurological deficit primarily altered mental sta-tus, which could be recognized as one of the more important predictors for falling after stroke. The identification of risk factors may be a first step toward the design of intervention programs for preventing a future fall among hospital-ized stroke patients.