Risk factors for falls among the community-dwelling elderly in Korea.
Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, 38% of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32). We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.
Sohng
Kyeong-Yae
KY
College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-7001, Korea. sky@catholic.ac.kr
Moon
Jung-Soon
JS
Song
Hae-Hiang
HH
Lee
Kwang-Soo
KS
Kim
Young-Sook
YS
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology