Identifying Risk Factors for Inpatient Falls in Burn Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Ana Rivera Juarez; Charles Voigt; Sadaf Akbari; Colette Galet; Alexander Kurjatko

doi:10.1093/jbcr/irag124

Back

Identifying Risk Factors for Inpatient Falls in Burn Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Identifying Risk Factors for Inpatient Falls in Burn Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Ana Rivera Juarez, Charles Voigt, Sadaf Akbari, Colette Galet and Alexander Kurjatko

Journal of burn care & research, irag124

07/22/2026

DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irag124

PMID: 42485444

Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irag124View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Inpatient falls are associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased complications, and substantial economic burden. Burn patients face unique risks due to impaired mobility. Yet, risk factors and outcomes in burn units remain underexplored. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of inpatient falls on adult burn outcomes. Predictors of fall risk to guide prevention strategies were identified. Adult patients admitted for burn injuries from January 1, 2015, to July 31, 2024, were included. Fallers were identified through an internal auditing system and matched 1:2 to non-fall controls based on age, sex, total burn surface area (TBSA), and inhalation injury. Demographics, comorbidities, medication use, Fall Risk Assessment Score (FRAS), physical and occupational therapy assessments, and fall safety measures were collected. Univariate, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed; p<0.05 was considered significant. One hundred thirty-two patients were included, 45 fallers and 87 non-fallers. Fallers were more likely to use antihypertensives (62.2% vs. 39.1%, p = 0.016) and antiarrhythmics (75.6% vs. 52.9%, p=0.014) than non-fallers. They required greater mobility assistance at admission (Basic mobility score 16 [11.3-20] vs. 20 [14-24], p=0.002). Fallers required more help for activities of daily living (Daily activity score 16 [12-19] vs. 19 [14-22], p=0.004). The FRAS predictive value was moderate (AUC=0.653, p=0.009). Burn surgery requirement (Odds Ratio (OR)=3.35 [1.12-10.1], p=0.031) and FRAS (OR=1.12 [1.04-1.20], p=0.003) were independently associated with fall risk. These findings underscore the value of functional assessment and proactive, tailored fall prevention.

predictors

clinical outcomes

Burn inpatient

fall risk assessment

falls

UIOWA OA Agreement

Details

Title: Subtitle: Identifying Risk Factors for Inpatient Falls in Burn Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Creators: Ana Rivera Juarez - University of Iowa
Charles Voigt - University of Iowa Health Care
Sadaf Akbari - University of Iowa Health Care
Colette Galet - University of Iowa
Alexander Kurjatko - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of burn care & research, irag124
DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irag124
PMID: 42485444
NLM abbreviation: J Burn Care Res
ISSN: 1559-0488
eISSN: 1559-0488
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Grant note: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health: UM1TR004403
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UM1TR004403. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 07/22/2026
Academic Unit: Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; University of Iowa Health Care
Record Identifier: 9985183559202771

Metrics

2 Record Views