Hemodial Int. 2026 Mar 10. doi: 10.1111/hdi.70068. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients on hemodialysis have comorbidities and malnutrition and are subject to polypharmacy, which contributes to disability and sarcopenia. These conditions increase the risk of falls and are associated with fractures, morbidities, substantial costs, nursing home admissions, hospitalization, and mortality.
OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluated the association of physical function, postural balance, frailty, fear of falling, and quality of life with the occurrence and number of falls within a 12-month interval in patients on hemodialysis.
METHODS: Patients were assessed for physical function (gait speed over 15 ft., timed up and go [TUG] test, 5-repetition sit-to-stand [5-STS] test, and handgrip strength), postural balance (Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test [Mini-BESTest]), frailty, fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International [FES-I]), and quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]). Interviews were conducted for 12 months to monitor falls.
RESULTS: One hundred twelve patients were included and the incidence rate was 1.62 falls/person-years. The occurrence of falls was associated with the TUG (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.01-1.53) and 5-STS (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21) performance and frailty (OR: 7.22, 95% CI: 1.71-30.50). The number of falls was associated with the gait speed (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06-0.77), TUG test results (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.16-1.62), handgrip strength (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99), Mini-BESTest (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78-0.96), frailty (OR: 4.43; 95% CI: 1.87-10.51), FES-I score (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06-1.17), and SF-36 scores in the physical functioning (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99), physical role (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98-0.99), and physical component summary (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99) domains.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing hemodialysis have a higher incidence of falls. Falls are associated with physical function, postural balance, frailty, and quality of life.
PMID:41804571 | DOI:10.1111/hdi.70068