title: Risk factors for falls in older Korean adults: the 2011 Community Health Survey.
abstract: Falls are a major health problem for elderly populations worldwide. We analyzed data from the 2011 Korean Community Health Survey to identify potential risk factors for falls in a representative population-based sample of community-dwelling older Korean adults. Risk factors for falls were assessed by multivariate survey logistic regression models. The prevalence of falls was 16.9% in males and 24.3% in females [Corrected]. Age and female sex were associated with a higher risk of falls. Similarly, living alone, living in an urban area, poor self-rated health, and high stress were associated with a high risk of falls. Subjects with diabetes mellitus, stroke, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, cataracts, or depression had a high risk of falls. However, subjects with hypertension were at low risk for falls. In conclusion, age, female sex, marital status, residence location, self-rated health, stress, and several chronic conditions were significantly associated with the risk for falls in the older Korean adults. Our findings suggest that these risk factors should be addressed in public health policies for preventing falls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7827-9150
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun A
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2914-4422
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Nu Ri
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3348-610X
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ae
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1610-1001
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Woon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6715-1768
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. ; Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2217-5624
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: Accidental Falls; Elderly People; Koreans; Risk Factors