Status and home environment-related risk factors for falls among older adults living in the urban community / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the status and environment-related risk factors for falls among older adults in the urban community,and to provide evidences for the development of specific interventions.Methods A total of 993 older adults aged ≥60 years old from 2 communities in Cixi City were selected by stratified cluster sampling. Face-to-face interview and field investigation were carried out to collect participants' basic information,the situation and environment-related risk factors for falls occurred to them from November 2012 to October 2013.Results The overall incidence of falls was 14.90%,and it was significantly higher in wowen (17.19%) than in men(12.47%)(P<0.05). There were 109 participants reported to have fall-related injury with an incidence of 10.98%(109/993). Moreover,the incidence of fall-related injury for women(13.87%) was significantly higher than that for men(7.69%)(P<0.05). Among them, 35.14% falls occurred in home,the washroom(93.62%)and drawing room(85.02%) had higher proportion of having falling-related environmental risk factors. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that uneven carpet in aisle (OR=3. 542,95% CI1.235-10.161)and having clutters beside the bed (OR=8.611,95% CI2.051-36.574) were two main environmental risk factors for elder falls in home.Conclusion The incidence of falls of older adult in Cixi was 14.90%. Uneven carpet in aisle and having clutters beside the bed were two main environmental risk factors for falls among the elderly at home.