• Melissa Russell, Keith Hill, Lesley Day, Teddy Oosterhuis, Irene Blackberry, and Shyamali C Dharmage.
• Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
• Australas J Ageing. 2015 Mar 1; 34 (1): 47-52.

AimTo identify factors predictive of function 12 months after a fall and emergency department (ED) presentation.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study with 608 older people who had a fall. After presentation and discharge from the ED, a baseline assessment was initially undertaken and then repeated after 12 months. The Human Activity Profile Adjusted Activity Score (HAP-AAS) at the 12-month follow-up assessment was the functional outcome measure.ResultsOver the follow-up period, 37.3% (95% CI 33.4, 41.2) of participants declined in their HAP-AAS score. Increased age, pre-index fall functional impairment, poorer mobility/balance, and sustaining falls and severe injuries over the 12-month follow-up period were some of the factors predictive of a lower HAP-AAS score.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of preventing falls in the 12 months after discharge from an ED. Some of the factors identified as being predictive of lower function are the same as those previously found to be predictive of falls.© 2014 ACOTA.

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