FEAR OF FALL AMONG SUB-ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

OBJECTIVE: To compare fear of fall (lack of self-confidence to maintain balance during normal activity) with and without fall history among sub-acute stroke patients in Lahore, Pakistan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 till January 2019 in different hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Sixty-six patients in age group of 40-75 years and having sub-acute stroke (stroke duration between 2-6 months) were included in the study after taking their consent. Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) questionnaire was used. RESULTS: Out of 66 subjects, 41 (62.1%) were males. Majority (n=39; 59.1%) of patients were between 50-70 years of age and 16 (24.2%) were >70 years old. Fifty (75.8%) patients had hemorrhagic stroke. Most (52/66, 78.8%) of the patients were independent/ambulatory. Thirty-six (54.5%) patients used assistive devices. Patients with history of fall were 37 (56.1%) while fear of fall was recorded in 28 (42.4%) patients. Maximum (17/37; 45.9%) patients fell in washroom, 12/37 (32.4%) in bedroom, 5/37 (12.5 %) fell outside at road or pavement and 3/37 (8.1%) patients fell from stairs. Overall mean FES-I score was 29.08 +/- 5.29. Mean FES-I score in patients with history of fall was 30.38 +/- 5.55 as compared to 27.41 +/- 4.50 in patients with no fall history (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, fear of fall score is significantly higher in subacute stroke patients with history of fall than in patients without history of fall.