ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF FALLS IN THE ELDERLY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS WITH FALLS

1. ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF FALLS IN THE ELDERLY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS WITH FALLS BEYHAN CENGIZ OZYURT, MD Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine Public Health Department, TURKEY PhD student, Health of the Elderly Programme of Ege University, TURKEY

2. Falls • A major health problem for older adults. • Geriatric syndromes →frailty, urinary incontinence, falls, delirium and pressure ulcers • Falls are one of the main causes of injury, disability, and death among the elderly

3. Common and Preventable • Various reviews and meta-analyses have estimated that 30% of people older than age 65, and 50% of people older than age 85, who live in the community will fall at least once each year. • Falls lead to functional decline, hospitalization, institutionalization, and higher healthcare costs • Fallpreventionhasbeendemonstratedtobecosteffective, and cost-saving.

4. Risk Factors ■ Individual factors – Age, gender, ethnicity, poor education and low income; ■ Health characteristics – Postural hypotension, chronic conditions, medication use, excessive alcohol use, low levels of physical activity, insufficient sleep, increased body mass index; ■ Intrinsic capacity – Declines in physical, emotional and cognitive capacity, and difficulties with vision, balance and mobility; ■ Environmental – Inadequate housing (slippery flooring, dim lighting, obstacles and tripping hazards), poor stairway design, uneven streets and footpaths, lack of access to health and social services, improper use of assistive devices, lack of social interaction and community support, inappropriate footwear.

5. METHOD • The population of this cross-sectional study was 3163 elderly individuals who were living at the region of two randomly selected primary medical services (one at rural area, other at urban area) in April 2015. • The sample size was calculated using the software of Epi info 7.0; thereby, 480 elderly individuals were enrolled. • Each individual was randomly selected from his/her registration at the Manisa Public Health Deparment. • All data were collected by face-to-face interview and a standardized questionnaire form, that involved sociodemographic characteristics, health and social status, Katz index was used. • The rate of participation was 88.9% (n=427). • All data was evaluated using descriptive analysis and chi square test. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.

6. RESULTS • The mean age of the study group was 72.9±6.7. • The majority of individuals (86.4%) had a chronic disease for which continuous drug administration was required, 49.6% was women, 35.1% was graduated from elementary school and %23.4 was living alone. • More than 79.4 of elderly could have done daily living activities easily, less than 5% were depent in one or more basic activities of their daily life.

8. Whenpatients’ fallexperienceswerequestioned, it wasdeterminedthat30.4% of them had fallen in thelastoneyear. • Averagenumber of falling of studysamplewas 1.73±1.06. • 43.1% of olderpeoplewhoreportedfallinghistoryfelloutsidehome, • 36.3% fellbystumbling • 28.3% fellduetodizziness • 20.0% receivedmedicaltreatmentforfalling at a hospital.

9. The risk factors of falls • individualswhowerelivingalone, • being 75 years of ageandover, • havingworsepercievedhealthstatus, • socialisolation, • insufficientincome, • lack of accessibility in healthcare, • need of supportduringdailyactivitities • had 2 andoverchronicdiseaseforwhichcontinuousdrugadministrationwasrequired.

10. Conclusion • These findings reveal that fall prevalence and risk factors that increase risk for falls are high in the individuals aged 65 or older. • In order to prevent the falls in elderly, it is vital to perform assessments about risk factors for falls in elderly; and take preventive measures.