OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether anemia contributes to the likelihood of experiencing an in-hospital fall. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between January 1, 1998 and June 30, 2003. To be included as a case, patients had to be = 18 years of age, hospitalized for > 24 hours, have a hemoglobin (Hgb) test during their stay, and experience an in-hospital fall. Control patients were matched 1:1 on age, gender, race, service, length of stay (± one day), and year of admission. Anemia was assessed using the first Hgb value and defined as Hgb < 12g/dL for females or Hgb < 13g/dL for males. A reference fall date was calculated for each control patient by using the same timeframe (e.g. days to fall) as its matched fall case. Drug utilization was identified two-days before the fall date for cases and the reference fall date for controls. Statistics performed were T-tests, chi-square, and logistic regression using “fall” as the dependent variable and comorbidities, drug class, and anemia status as covariates. RESULTS: There were a total of 1248 patients identified for study. The mean age was 68 ± 15 years, 49% were female, and 89% were Caucasian. Cases were more likely to have congestive heart failure (23% vs. 19%), chronic kidney disease - CKD (12% vs. 7%), and diabetes (29% vs. 23%) and be receiving antidepressants (27% vs. 21%), benzodiazepines (30% vs. 24%), and anticonvulsants (22% vs. 15%). Regression analysis demonstrated that patients with CKD (OR=1.8, p=0.003), pneumonia (OR=1.6, p=0.03), and those receiving antidepressants (OR=1.3, p=0.02), benzodiazepines (OR=1.4, p=0.007), and anticonvulsants (OR=1.5, p=0.006) were more likely to experience an in-hospital fall. CONCLUSION: In this case-control study, anemia did not contribute to in-hospital falls.