Risk factors for falls in the Thai elderly in an urban community.
BACKGROUND
Instability or falls in the elderly are a health condition meeting all criteria for prevention i.e. high frequency, evidence of preventability and a high burden of morbidity. The consequences of a fall affect not only the elderly per se such as fractures and various kinds of physical and mental impairment, but also the family and the society as a whole in terms of the financial expenditure involved. The need for a comprehensive study to identify the risk factors for falls among the Thai elderly is, therefore, crucial for further management.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the significant risk factors for falls among the Thai elderly for further prevention and management.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study in the urban community around Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok. 1,043 community-dwelling people aged > or = 60 years were recruited. A structured questionnaire, including mental test and physical examinations as well as various laboratory tests, were used to identify the risk factors for falls between faller and control groups.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of falls among elderly Thais in an urban area was 19.8 per cent during a period of 6 months. However, the prevalence was 24.1 per cent in women but only 12.1 per cent in men. Older people who were likely to fall also had a lower bone mass which predisposed them to future fractures. The independent risk factors for falls after multiple logistic regression analysis were: female gender, hypertension, deafness, poor memory, poor self-perceived health status, poor performance in the instrumental activities of daily living, kyphoscoliosis, use of spectacles, rapid pulse rate after a 5 minute rest, higher serum transferrin and poor nutrition in terms of low lean body mass and reduced serum albumin level.


CONCLUSIONS
Special sense, activity of daily living, nutritional status, kyphoscoliosis, hypertension and cognitive ability were six important factors determining the likelihood of fall among the elderly in an urban area.
Assantachai
Prasert
P
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
Praditsuwan
Rungnirand
R
Chatthanawaree
Wichai
W
Pisalsarakij
Dujpratana
D
Thamlikitkul
Visanu
V
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population