Every year, about 1000 falls occur at Landspítali and falls are the most common occurrences for inpatients. The risk of falls is highest for individuals 65 years and older, as well as patients 50-64 years old who are assessed as at risk of falls due to underlying disease or condition.

A wave is defined as an incident where a person falls unintentionally onto the floor, the ground or another low surface. Waves can have serious consequences for patients and they have huge cost. International studies that have examined risk factors for waves within hospitals have shown that the condition of the patients’ nutrition is a risk factor for waves.

In the spring of 2025, a study was conducted in Iceland to find out whether there was a relationship between the risk of malnutrition and the effects of a wave. The results showed that 34% of the patients who were exposed to a wave were at high risk of malnutrition. It also showed that patients at high risk of malnutrition stayed longer in the hospital and were less self-sufficient after the wave.

Further details of the study will be presented along with other interesting topics at a symposium on the occasion of the International Day of Revolutionary Defence on 22 September.

The day will be dedicated to the importance of nutrition in preventing falls.

All welcome while the room permits.

The seminar will also be held.

President: Konstantín Shcherbak, Specialist Physician at Landspítali

12:45 The hall opens

13:00-13:10 Seminar Setup of the Icelandic National University of Science and Technology Quality Standard for Revolutionary Response, Frequency of Revolutions and Impact Factors Bergþóra Baldursdóttir, Project Manager of Revolutionary Response at Landspítali University Hospital

13:10-13:30 Byltur in the wards of Landspítali. Relationship between risk of malnutrition and patient fate after the revolution Karen Ruth Hákonardóttir, clinical nutritionist MS

13:35-14:00 The association between malnutrition, falls and harmful falls Dr. Jack Bell, Senior Dietitian at The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland

14:00-14:15 Risk assessment from the perspective of the medical staff - experience from communicable diseases unit A7 Sara Isabella Hilmarsdóttir, medical staff

14:15-14:30 Short break – coffee

14:30-15:10 Workshop - Practical tasks for carrying out a screening for nutritional status

15:10-15:30 Nutritional status of patients - What is the role of nursing? Dr. Sigrún Sunna Skúladóttir, lecturer at the Faculty of Nursing at HÍ

15:30-15:50 Nutritional status of elderly patients with hip fractures following the revolution Kolbrún Kristiansen, specialist in nursing at Landspítali

15:50-16:00 Conclusion by Áróra Rós Ingadóttir, Head of Nutrition at Landspítali

The programme of the seminar can be found here