Multivariate prediction of falls in elderly inpatients

One hundred and forty falls sustained by 65 psychogeriatric inpatients of average age 77.1 were studied in an attempt to identify risk factors. Multivariate analysis revealed increased age, a diagnosis of dementia and use of tricyclic antidepressants to be positively associated with falls when comparison was made to a control group of patients treated on the same unit who did not fall. Use of high‐potency neuroleptics was negatively associated with falls in the same analysis. A second analysis failed to reveal any variables, including routine daily measurements of orthostatic change in blood pressure, to be associated with rate of falling within the group of fallers.