Incidence and Factors of Functional Decline After Emergency Department Discharge in Older Adults With Falls

NCT07163715 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 25-8T/108
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 280
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn about changes in activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults after being discharged from the emergency department (ED) following a fall. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How often do older adults experience a decline in their ability to perform daily activities after being discharged from the ED for a fall? What health or lifestyle factors (such as frailty, medications, physical activity, or fear of falling) are related to this decline? Participants will be 65 years or older, admitted to the ED for a simple fall, and discharged without hospitalization. At the time of their ED visit, participants will be asked questions about their health, medications, activity level, and daily functioning. They will then be contacted online or by phone at 7 days and 30 days after discharge to answer follow-up questions. This study will help identify how common functional decline is after falls in older adults discharged from the ED, and which factors may predict higher risk. These findings could help improve follow-up care and prevention strategies for older patients.

Conditions

Fall; Daily Activities; Functional Decline; Older Adults (65 Years and Older)

Keywords

Falls; Decline fictional status; Decline daily activities; Emergency medicine

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Decline in Activities of Daily Living

  Change in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score from baseline to follow-up. Decline is defined as an increase in dependency in at least one ADL item compared with baseline.

  Baseline (ED discharge), 7 days, and 30 days after discharge

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who present to the emergency department (ED) with a simple fall and are discharged without hospitalization. Participants must be cognitively able to complete baseline and follow-up assessments. This population represents a group at risk of functional decline despite not requiring inpatient admission. By focusing on older adults discharged from the ED, the study aims to capture real-world outcomes in a population that is often underrepresented in research but commonly experiences falls and subsequent declines in independence.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥ 65 years
• Presentation to the emergency department with a simple (non-injurious) fall
• Discharged from the ED without hospitalization
• Cognitively able to answer online or telephone follow-up interviews

You may not qualify if:

• Falls due to traumatic events other than simple falls
• Hospital admission required after the fall
• Presence of acute confusion, dementia, or other severe cognitive impairment
• Inability to access online or telephone follow-up during the 30-day study period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ege University: lead

Central Study Contacts

Özge Can

CONTACT

+905054499887; ozgece83@gmail.com

Şadiye Mıdık

CONTACT

sadiyeayhan@hotmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2025
• First Posted: September 9, 2025
• Study Start: September 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 5, 2025
• Study Completion: December 5, 2025
• Last Updated: September 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share