Evaluation of fall risk in patients with stroke diagnosis admitted to the emergenc department

Stroke is a neurological condition characterized by tissue damage resulting from an interruption in cerebral blood flow, which prevents the brain from receiving sufficient oxygen. Following a stroke, impairments in motor, cognitive, and sensory functions negatively affect patients' mobility and balance, thereby increasing the risk of falls. Emergency departments are the primary units where stroke patients receive initial medical intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the fall risk among stroke patients hospitalized in the emergency department. The research was conducted as a descriptive cross- sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of 90 individuals aged 18 years and older who were admitted to the Observation Unit of the Emergency Department at Bursa Uludağ University, had a medical diagnosis of stroke, were conscious, within the first 8 hours of admission, and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Data collection was carried out between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2025. The data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, the Itaki II Fall Risk Scale, and the Morse Fall Scale. The mean age of the participants was 66.61±15.65 years, and 55.6% were male. It was determined that 90.0% of the individuals had at least one chronic disease, and 82.2% were receiving regular medication for their chronic conditions. Among the cases, 68.9% were diagnosed with ischemic stroke and 31.1% with hemorrhagic stroke; additionally, 62.2% of the participants reported experiencing weakness in their extremities. When examining the relationship between the total scores of the Itaki II Fall Risk Scale and the Morse Fall Scale used in the study, a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found (r = 0.672, p = 0.001). This finding indicates that both scales provide consistent results in identifying similar levels of fall risk. It was observed that stroke patients monitored in the emergency department are at high risk of falling due to both disease-related and environmental factors. Therefore, the selection of fall risk assessment tools should take into account the patient's clinical condition and reason for hospitalization. Scales such as the Morse and Itaki II scales provide comprehensive and effective assessment tools for stroke patients in the emergency department.