Latent class analysis of multimorbidity patterns and associated factors among older adult fallers in the hospital.
- 1Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, China.
- 2Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Falls among older adults in hospitals remain a frequent occurrence, and multimorbidity is significantly associated with this adverse event. However, research on multimorbidity patterns specifically among older hospitalized patients who experienced falls remains limited. This study aimed to identify multimorbidity classes and their associated factors in this population.Methods
Data were extracted from the nursing management information system of a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, China, covering fall incidents recorded between January 2015 and August 2025. Information on patient characteristics, fall event features, and outcomes was collected. Latent class analysis was performed using 12 chronic conditions to delineate multimorbidity classes among older adult fallers in the hospital. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with each multimorbidity class.Results
Among the 705 older adult fallers, cancer was the most prevalent chronic condition. Four distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified: the Stroke group (11.9%), the Cancer group (22.8%), the Multisystem multimorbidity group (22.4%), and the Relatively healthy group (42.8%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, ward, accompaniment status, pre-fall status, staff years of service, risk assessment score, and the number of fall-risk-increasing drugs were significantly associated with latent multimorbidity classes among older hospitalized fallers (p < 0.05).Conclusion
Multimorbidity among older adult fallers in the hospital was common, underscoring the urgent need to incorporate multimorbidity into current fall prevention guidelines. Distinct multimorbidity classes can be identified among older hospitalized fallers, each characterized by specific comorbidity patterns and associated with different factors. Based on these findings, clinical practitioners can develop targeted nursing intervention strategies to reduce fall risk in this population.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026latent,
title = {{Latent class analysis of multimorbidity patterns and associated factors among older adult fallers in the hospital.}},
author = {Xinyun Wang and Lili Sun and Lijuan Quan and Minglu Fan and Zhaodi Wang},
journal = {BMC geriatrics},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12877-026-07997-4},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897528},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Latent class analysis of multimorbidity patterns and associated factors among older adult fallers in the hospital.
AU - Xinyun Wang
AU - Lili Sun
AU - Lijuan Quan
AU - Minglu Fan
AU - Zhaodi Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC geriatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12877-026-07997-4
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897528
AB - Background Falls among older adults in hospitals remain a frequent occurrence, and multimorbidity is significantly associated with this adverse event. However, research on multimorbidity patterns specifically among older hospitalized patients who experienced falls remains limited. This study aimed to identify multimorbidity classes and their associated factors in this population.Methods Data were extracted from the nursing management information system of a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, China, covering fall incidents recorded between January 2015 and August 2025. Information on patient characteristics, fall event features, and outcomes was collected. Latent class analysis was performed using 12 chronic conditions to delineate multimorbidity classes among older adult fallers in the hospital. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with each multimorbidity class.Results Among the 705 older adult fallers, cancer was the most prevalent chronic condition. Four distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified: the Stroke group (11.9%), the Cancer group (22.8%), the Multisystem multimorbidity group (22.4%), and the Relatively healthy group (42.8%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, ward, accompaniment status, pre-fall status, staff years of service, risk assessment score, and the number of fall-risk-increasing drugs were significantly associated with latent multimorbidity classes among older hospitalized fallers (p < 0.05).Conclusion Multimorbidity among older adult fallers in the hospital was common, underscoring the urgent need to incorporate multimorbidity into current fall prevention guidelines. Distinct multimorbidity classes can be identified among older hospitalized fallers, each characterized by specific comorbidity patterns and associated with different factors. Based on these findings, clinical practitioners can develop targeted nursing intervention strategies to reduce fall risk in this population.
SN - 1471-2318
ER -