Factors associated with falls in the elderly: a community study.
In 2793 respondents aged 65 and over in a survey of a geographically defined community, who were asked about falls in the preceding twelve months, the estimated annual prevalence rate (persons) of falls was 28.0%. Standardized for age, the rate was twice as high in women as in men. Rates increased with age but more steeply in men than in women. Compared with non-fallers, fallers had been in more recent contact with their general practitioner, showed higher prevalence of problems with mobility and daily living, a more frequent history of stroke and heart disease, and had more episodes of non-rotatory vertigo, double vision, faints and blackouts and episodes of weakness or numbness. Fallers also showed more frequent evidence suggestive of cognitive impairment. More fallers than non-fallers were taking diuretics and tranquilizers and these associations merit further study.
D000059:Accidents; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003625:Data Collection; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology*