Abstract
Background: Fear of falling (FOF) is as significant as a fall, leading to limited physical activity and poor quality of life among senior citizens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of FOF and its association with physical function and fall history among the senior citizens (≥75 years old) living in rural areas of China.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in eastern China from June to October 2019. All elderly participants were recruited during their attendance for the free health examinations in villages and towns organized by the local healthcare authorities. Data on sociodemographics, fall history, FOF conditions, self-reported comorbidity and regular medications were collected by face-to-face interview, and the physical function status was evaluated through a field test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the differences in physical function and fall history of senior citizens with/without FOF.Results: A total of 753 senior citizens (mean age = 79.04) participated in this study. Of these, 63.5% were aged 75–80. FOF was reported in 22.8% of the participants, while 18.5% had a fall in the past year. Among the senior citizens with and without a fall history, the prevalences of FOF were 38.8 and 19.2%, respectively. On multivariate analyses, FOF was independently associated with the Time Up and Go Test (TUG) duration (OR = 1.080; 95% CI: 1.034–1.128), 4-Stage Balance Test score (OR = 0.746; 95% CI: 0.597–0.931), fall history (OR = 2.633; 95% CI: 1.742–3.980), cerebral apoplexy (OR = 2.478; 95% CI: 1.276–4.813) and comorbidities (≥2) (OR = 1.637; 95% CI: 1.066–2.514), while the correlation between FOF and the 30-s chair stand test was only statistically significant in univariate analysis (Z = −3.528, p < 0.001).Conclusion: High prevalence of FOF is observed among the senior citizens living in rural areas of China. FOF is strongly correlated with physical function performance and fall history. Therefore, the implementation of targeted FOF prevention measures is key to improve the physical activity of the senior citizens, which would ultimately lead to fall prevention and improved quality of life.
Highlights
Fall is a global public health concern given the aging population worldwide [1]
Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of fear of falling (FOF) and its association with physical function and fall history among senior citizens (>75 years old) living in rural areas of China, which would provide a valuable reference for the future screening, prevention, and treatment of FOF and its associated adverse outcomes
45.4% were female, 17.5% lived alone, 55.2% had body mass index (BMI) within the normal range (18.5–23.9), 58.4% suffered from hypertension, 7.3% suffered from diabetes, 6.9% had cerebral apoplexy, 9.8% were diagnosed to have osteoporosis, 18.2% had arthritis, 1.6% reported to have urinary incontinence, 24.2% had 2 or more chronic diseases, and 3.3% took ≥5 regular medications
Summary
Fall is a global public health concern given the aging population worldwide [1]. It may negatively impact individual physical and mental health, potentially leading to functional decline, disability, and premature death [2, 3]. Fall-related psychological disorders mainly include fear of falling (FOF), loss of self-efficacy, and avoidance of certain activities, which threaten the overall health of senior citizens [4, 5]. Fear of falling (FOF) is as significant as a fall, leading to limited physical activity and poor quality of life among senior citizens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of FOF and its association with physical function and fall history among the senior citizens (≥75 years old) living in rural areas of China
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