Prevalence of falls in the last weeks of life and relationship between falls, independence and quality of dying in Japan: a large prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study aims to determine the frequency of falls and their serious complications in palliative care units (PCUs), as well as explore the complex interplay between falls, independence and quality of dying.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

The dying process of patients with advanced cancer in 23 PCUs in Japan.

Outcome measures

Palliative care specialist physicians recorded whether patients experienced falls, serious complications from falls, activities that led to falls, independence (workability in the last days and use of indwelling urinary catheter) and Good Death Scale as an indicator of quality of dying.

Results

Of the 1633 patients evaluated, 150 patients (9.2%; 95% CI 7.8% to 11%) experienced falls within 30 d

SUBMITTER: Otani H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11529517 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature