Factors associated with falls among community-dwelling older people in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Falls are common among older people. Previous studies have shown that falls were multifactorial. However, data regarding community-dwelling Chinese population are minimal. We aimed to study factors associated with falls among community-dwelling older Chinese people.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study in a community hospital in Taiwan in 2010. Our sample included 671 elders from the 3680 examinees of the free annual Senior Citizens Health Examination. Participants were interviewed with a detailed questionnaire, and 317 elders were further invited for serum vitamin D tests. The main outcome was falls in the previous 12 months. Predictor variables included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle risk factors, body stature, frailty, serum 25 (OH) D levels, and medications.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 671 participants was 75.7 ± 6.4 years old, and 48.7% of which were female. Fallers comprised 21.0% of the study population. In multivariate models, female gender (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.32), loss of height in adulthood (aOR: 1.52), low body weight (aOR: 2.69), central obesity (aOR: 1.67), frailty (aOR: 1.56), polypharmacy (aOR: 2.18) and hyperglycaemia (aOR: 1.56) were factors associated with falls. Vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25 (OH) D levels <30 ng/mL) was not associated with falls (OR: 0.78; 95% CI, 0.38 to 1.60) (n = 317) in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Among community-dwelling older people in Taiwan, falls were mainly associated with female gender, polypharmacy, frailty, reduced body height, low body weight or central obesity, and hyperglycaemia. In addition to other risk factors, body stature should be considered as a novel risk factor when screening elders at risk for falls.
Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Tai Yin
TY
Wu
Wei Chu
WC
Chie
Rong Sen
RS
Yang
Jen Pei
JP
Liu
Kuan Liang
KL
Kuo
Wai Kuen
WK
Wong
Chen Kun
CK
Liaw
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001824:Body Constitution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019338:Polypharmacy; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology