AI-Based Digital Healthcare Application to Manage Fall Risks in Residents of Nursing Homes in Germany: Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Falls in older people cause an autonomy loss and result in a high economic burden. LCare is an AI-based application to manage fall risks. The study objective was to assess LCare use impact on patient outcomes, in nursing homes in Germany.

METHODS: LCare identifies and monitors fall risks through a 3D-gait analysis, complemented with a digital questionnaire; it provides tailored recommendations on fall prevention. A real-life study was conducted with AOK Baden-Württemberg (01.09.2019- 31.05.2021) in 16 care facilities. Assessments at baseline and follow-up included: a fall risk score; falls (baseline: fall history in the past 12 months; follow-up: a fall record since the last analysis); fall-related injuries and hospitalizations; gait speed; fear of falling; psychological stress; nurses experience on app use.

RESULTS: 94 seniors were aged 65-99 years at the initial analysis (average 84±7 years); 566 mobility analyses were carried out in total. On average, there was 17.8 % reduction in fall risk from baseline (p<0.05). The risk of falling decreased across all subgroups, including a trend in dementia patients (p=0.06), constituting 43% of analyzed patients, and patients with walking aids (p<0.05), constituting 76% of analyzed patients. There was a trend (p<0.1) towards fewer falls and fall-related injuries and hospitalizations (baseline: 23 seniors who fell, 13 injury consequences, 9 hospitalizations; follow-up: 14 seniors who fell, 2 injury consequences, 0 hospitalizations). There was a 16% improvement in gait speed (p<0.05). Residents reported less of fear of falling and psychological stress, by 38% on both outcomes (p<0.05). 81% of nurses found LCare app effective.

CONCLUSIONS: In the presented study, use of LCare app was associated with a reduction of fall risk among nursing home residents, improvement of health-related outcomes, and a trend towards reduction in injuries and hospitalizations. LCare may help to improve senior resident care and to save healthcare costs.