title: Factors contributing to falls in elderly men living in the community.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to falls in elder men and the differences between those who fall and those who do not. A convenience sample (n = 71) of men age 65-87 was interviewed, and their activity levels, mental status, mobility status, and weight were evaluated. Most men (73%) had fair to good mental status, minimal (35%) to moderate (56%) activity levels, and average (30%) or high (49%) weight. Fifty-two percent reported falling in the past 2 years: 43% of these men fell once, 19% fell two or three times, and 38% fell four or more times. Only two variables were significant (P <.05) between men who fell and those who did not: Low weight and slow gait time. Poor balance approached significance at P =.0512. In ambulatory elderly men, those who were underweight with slow gait time and poor balance were most at risk for falling.
authors.affiliation: James H. Quillen VA Medical Center's Outpatient Medical Clinic in Mountain Home, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Honeycutt
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramsey
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors