J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2010 Mar;14(1):8-17.

Falls in a Proportional Region Population in Korean Elderly: Incidence, Consequences, and Risk Factors

• Lim JY
• Park WB
• Oh MK
• Kang EK
• Paik NJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To investigate the occurrence of falls and their consequences in a representative population and to identify risk factors of falls in the elderly.
METHODS
The study participants were community-dwelling elderly people aged 65 years or old as a population based sample of one large city. A total of 828 people 65 years or older participated in this study. They were interviewed over the telephone by a trained interviewer using a structured questionnaire to obtain a fall history and details of their most recent fall including date, time, place, circumstances, and associated injury. As for risk factors for falls, we asked about living arrangement (with family or alone), alcohol intake, exercise, visual and hearing impairments, memory and sensory problems, lower limb weakness, and arthritis symptoms. Fear of falling and fear-related activity restriction were also evaluated.
RESULTS
The incidence of falls during the last one year was 13.0%. Women experienced falls more frequently. Falls occurred mainly in spring and summer and from 10 AM to 3 PM. Common causes of falls were slipping and tripping. 14.9% of those who fell suffered consequent fractures. Being female was a significant risk factor for falls; and females tended to get injured more severely following a fall. During the recent one year, decreased proprioception in the lower extremity was a significant risk factor for falls. Those with histories of falls, and especially women, tended to limit their activities due to the fear of falling.
CONCLUSION
Overall, it appears that elderly women are more greatly affected by falls at several levels. Female participants fell more frequently and suffered more severe consequences. Fall-related injuries and risk factors for falls disproportionately affected women. And, being female and any amount of decreased sensation in the feet were significant risk factors for falls.

Keyword

Fall; Risk factors; Aged

MeSH Terms

Aged
Arthritis
Female
Foot
Hearing
Humans
Hypogonadism
Incidence
Lower Extremity
Memory
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
Proprioception
Surveys and Questionnaires
Residence Characteristics
Risk Factors
Sensation
Telephone
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia