Prevalence and predictors of falls in a health‐seeking older population: An outpatient‐based study

Bibliographic Details
Title: Prevalence and predictors of falls in a health‐seeking older population: An outpatient‐based study
Authors: Manicka Saravanan Subramanian, Vishwajeet Singh, Prashun Chatterjee, Sada Nand Dwivedi, Aparajit Ballav Dey
Source: Aging Medicine, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 28-34 (2020)
Publisher Information: Wiley, 2020.
Publication Year: 2020
Collection: LCC:Geriatrics
Subject Terms: fall risk, falls, falls screening, older people, Geriatrics, RC952-954.6
More Details: Abstract Background Falls are one of the major causes of disability in older people. A wide range of risk factors for falls are described according to setting – inpatient, nursing homes and community. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for falls in an outpatient setting. Methods In this cross‐sectional observational study, 160 consenting subjects were enrolled randomly, from the Geriatric Medicine outpatient department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. Non‐ambulatory, seriously ill subjects were excluded. The subjects underwent brief evaluation including falls and geriatric assessment. They were grouped into fallers and non‐fallers. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with falls. Results The prevalence of falls was 23.75% (38/160). Women were proportionately higher (26.31%) in the fallers group vis‐à‐vis 19.67% in the non‐fallers group. After multivariate analysis, opioids (odds ratio [OR] 5.24 [95% CI, 2.0 18‐13.611]), vision impairment (OR 2.71 [95% CI, 1.050‐07.011]), fear of falling (OR 3.17 [95% CI, 1.167‐08.629]), instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) impairment (OR 3.41 [95% CI, 1.251‐09.301]), anti‐anginal medications (OR 8.90 [95% CI, 0.997‐79.564]) and self‐employment (OR 5.37 [95% CI, 1.058‐27.329]) were associated with falls. Adequate nutrition (OR 0.82 [95% CI, 0.688‐00.976]) and caregiver support (OR 0.46 [95% CI, 0.275‐00.801]) were protective of falls. Conclusion We identified the multi‐factorial etiology of falls. Patients having any of the above risk factors should undergo detailed fall risk assessment and preventive measures afterwards.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2475-0360
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2475-0360
DOI: 10.1002/agm2.12096
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/942802457faf4e78a104b8f56a291aa7
Accession Number: edsdoj.942802457faf4e78a104b8f56a291aa7
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:24750360
DOI:10.1002/agm2.12096
Published in:Aging Medicine
Language:English