The medical history (history) represents an important component in the diagnosis of fall propensity.
Family history
Social history
Current anamnesis/systemic anamnesis (somatic and psychological complaints).
- How many times have you had a fall? Have you ever injured yourself in the process?
- In what situations do you fall? At home, on the street?
- Do you have problems walking/running?
- Do you suffer from dizziness/balance problems? Or do you lose consciousness?
- Do you have any other symptoms (such as: Headache, muscle tremors, heart palpitations, nausea, etc.) noticed in connection with the fall?
- Is your vision impaired?
- Is your hearing impaired in certain situations?
- Do you suffer from joint problems of the legs or hip?
- Is your memory/memory impaired?
- Do you suffer from depression?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis
Self anamnesis incl. medication anamnesis
- Pre-existing conditions (eye diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, neurological diseases (eg, muscle weakness), cardiovascular diseases).
- Operations
- Allergies
- Orthopedic aids for locomotion?
Medication history
- Alpha blockers – significantly more men fell after starting therapy than men in the control group (1.45 versus 1.28%). Relatively, the difference was about 12%; absolutely, it was only 0.17%; fractures were recorded in 0.48% of patients on alpha blockers and in 0.41% without (the difference was significant)
- Benzodiazepines, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants; antihypertensives – people who had already had a fall were particularly at risk[1]); another study could not confirm the association with antihypertensives: in fact, it was able to demonstrate a significantly low risk of falls with injury consequences for ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists; another study was also able to demonstrate a lower risk of falls for RAAS inhibitors
- Polypharmacy (> 6 prescribed medications).
- Other drugs see below delirium