title: Fear of falling (FF): Psychosocial and physical factors among institutionalized older Chinese men in Taiwan.
abstract: Fear of falling (FF) can have multiple adverse consequences in the elderly. Although there are various fall prevention programs, little is known of FF and its associated characteristics. This study examined FF-associated physical and psychosocial factors in older Chinese men living in a veterans home in southern Taiwan. Subjects with a recent episode of delirium, of bed-ridden or wheelchair-bound status, severe hearing impairment or impaired cognition were excluded. Overall, 371 residents (mean age 82.1 ± 5.11 years, all males) participated. The prevalence of FF was 25.3%. Univariate analysis revealed that subjects in the FF group were older age, having lower education level, poorer sitting and standing balance, poorer activities of daily living (ADL), more depressive symptoms, higher chances of using walking aids, neurologic diseases, and a history of fall within the past 6 months. Logistic regression showed that depressive symptoms (odds ratio = OR = 6.73, 95%CI: 3.03-14.93, p < 0.001), activities of daily living (OR = 2.48, 95%CI: 1.08-5.71, p = 0.033), history of fall in the past 6 months (OR = 2.47, 95%CI: 1.04-5.9, p = 0.041), and neurological diseases (OR = 2.75, 95%CI: 1.15-6.56, p = 0.023) were all independent risk factors for FF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No 386, Ta-Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Chih-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Yu-Te
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kwong-Yui
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Ming-Yueh
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Liang-Kung
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chih-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology