Inverted U-shaped relationship between Barthel Index Score and falls in Chinese non-bedridden patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Performing activities of daily living comprise an important risk factor for falls among non-bedridden stroke inpatients in rehabilitation departments.

Objectives: To explore the correlation between Barthel Index score and the occurrence of falls in non-bedridden stroke rehabilitation inpatients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, information of patients grouped as non-bedridden patients by the Longshi Scale was collected.

Results: A total of 3097 patients were included in this study, with a fall incidence of 10.43%. After adjusting covariates, the total score of Barthel Index and falls in non-bedridden inpatients after stroke presented an inverted U-shaped curve relationship, in which inflection point was 60. The effect sizes on the left and right sides of infection point were 1.02 (95%CI 1.00-1.04) and 0.97 (95%CI 0.96-0.99), respectively.

Conclusions: Non-bedridden stroke patients with moderate activities of daily living (ADL) capacity may be at particularly increased risk of falls in rehabilitation departments.