The Relationship between the Subjective Risk Rating of Specific Tasks and Falls in Frail Elderly People

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine whether a subjective risk rating for falls is more valuable than other screening tools in relating falls in frail elderly people. [Subjects] The study included 232 elderly subjects (48 men, 184 women, mean age 82.8 ± 6.3 years) who had been using day care services. [Methods] Data included history of falls during the previous year, the subjective risk rating of specific tasks (SRRST), which is composed of seven questions, and potential confounding factors including demographic variables, primary diseases or general health status, physical performance, and behavioral variables. To determine the independent factors related to falls, a multiple logistic regression analysis was used to measure odds ratios adjusted for all measurement variables. [Results] Eighty-one subjects (34.9%) had fallen during the previous year. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, a significant relationship was found only with the SRRST score (odds ratio; 1.22). [Conclusion] The SRRST is related independently with falls, and may be useful for determining interventions for preventing falls, such as the supervision approach in the frail elderly people.