Assessment of the capacity of the Falls Efficacy Scale International in specifying the risk of falling in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) serum levels, and of the length of time on hemodialysis (LTH) to discriminate falling from non-falling patients with chronic kidney ­disease (CKD) under hemodialysis treatment. We conducted a cross sectional study on 64 patients with an average age of 44.2±14.8 years. Anthropometric data, PTH serum ­level, history, and risk of falls (FES-I), LTH, and level of physical ­activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire - IPAQ) were collected. We found elevated PTH serum lev­els in 64.1% of the patients, and 17.2% reported a history of falls in the last year. The average LTH was 50.3±37.5 months. A low level of physical activity was detected in 64.1% of the patients. There was also positive correlation between PTH and LTH (r=0.47, p<0.001). No correlation was found between the FES-I and PTH (p<0.131), between the FES-I and the LTH (p<0.153) or between the PTH (low value/normal <450 pg/mL and high value >;450 pg/mL) and the risk of falling (falling and non-falling patients) (p<0.158). In this study, the FES-I instrument was capable of discriminating fallers from non-fallers on hemodialysis. We conclude that the FES-I showed good performance in discerning fallers from non-fallers; however, no association was observed between falling patients with PTH serum levels and the LTH.