Risk factors of fall in elderly people

Dijana Avdić,Emela Mujić-Skikić,Džemal Pecar

doi:10.17305/bjbms.2004.3366

Dijana Avdić, Emela Mujić-Skikić + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2004.3366

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Abstract

Falls are the leading accidental cause of death among elderly people in their homes. Falls and their consequences are the primary reason in 40% of admissions to hospitals for people older than 65 years. The study population consisted of 77 randomly selected patients of both genders older then 65 years. Each patient was tested in his/her home and was completely informed about the methodology and the goals of investigation. Based on the exclusion criteria, three patients were excluded from the study, which means the investigation was conducted on 27 males (35.06%) and 50 females (64.94%) with the average age being 71.23 +/- 5.63 years. For each patient, a specially prepared questionnaire about risk factors was filled in. The sum of affirmative answers represented a relative index of fall risk. All patients were evaluated through Folstein's Mini-Mental State Examination Test that is suitable for on-sight use in patient's home. The score value over 20 excludes dementias, delirium, schizophrenia and affective disorders. Considering the values of the risk factor, scores obtained by the questionnaire and MMSE test scores, statistically significant differences were found between males and females (p < 0.005, respectively p < 0.01), "fallers" and "non-fallers" (p < 0.001, respectively p < 0.01), while considering the relation to the way of living (alone or with family), there were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05).

Highlights

Rapid industrialization and urbanization, as well as a rapid improvement in technology, have put elderly people on periphery of the interest in health institutions
The lower level of education in females belonging to the group of elderly people can be observed in the context of social, cultural and sub-cultural circumstances in our geographic areas where it was common that female children were less often sent to school
Between the subjects who live alone and the subjects who live with family there was no statistically significant difference related to the age group, body weight and the values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Summary

Introduction

As well as a rapid improvement in technology, have put elderly people on periphery of the interest in health institutions. One of the most important problems in this population group is fall, i.e. the consequences of falling. Fall is the leading cause of death resulting from different kinds of injures in people older than 65 years, while in people older than 75 years, almost 70% of interventions in emergency centres are related to fall [1]. Normal postural control include the control of a relative position of body parts directed by skeletal muscles in relation to gravitation and one opposed to other [2]. A twisted plank does not represent a problem for a normal, healthy person while the changes in body balance, muscle tonicity and cognition typical for elderly people may be sufficient to cause falling and a hip fracture [3]

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