Open AccessGender Differences in Risk Factors for Single and Recurrent Falls Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly
Author(s) -
Yu Mei O,
Fatima El Fakiri
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
sage open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2158-2440
DOI - 10.1177/2158244015602045
Subject(s) - falling (accident) , fear of falling , loneliness , activities of daily living , logistic regression , medicine , injury prevention , poison control , gerontology , suicide prevention , risk factor , occupational safety and health , psychological intervention , psychology , demography , physical therapy , environmental health , psychiatry , pathology , sociology
The purpose of this study was to identify gender differences inrisk factors of fall accidents among older people, and whether these factors differbetween single and recurrent fallers. A total of 4,426 individuals aged ≥65 years fromtwo large-scale health surveys provided data. Logistic regression analyses were used toidentify risk factors and to determine the risk model for falling and recurrent fallingin men and women separately. Three major risk factors for falling regardless of genderor fall history are fear of falling, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL),and age ≥75 years. Fear of falling remains one of the common modifiable risk factors.Among those without a fall history, the use of sedatives or tranquilizers increases therisk of falling. Regarding gender differences, ADL limitations and fear of fallingappear to be stronger fall risk factors for men than for women. Among women, alcohol useand educational level are significant risk factors for falling, while loneliness isassociated with recurrent falling. Men with fear of falling or ADL limitations are athigher risk to have a recurrent fall accident than women with these conditions. Having avisual impairment or living with someone is associated with recurrent falling among men.Our findings emphasize the importance of multifactorial fall interventions, taking intoaccount a variety of subgroup characteristics such as gender and fallhistory