Falls and associated risk factors in a sample of old age population in Egyptian community.

Introduction: Falling is a major health problem among old age persons and are the sixth cause of mortality and morbidity among them. Assessing the prevalence of falls among elderly in an Egyptian community and investigating its associated risk factors using the Arabic translation of the SHARE-Questionnaire. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was a part of the pilot for AL-SEHA project. It included 289 old age people (50+ years age) residing in the study areas. The main project data were collected using the Arabic translation of the SHARE (Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe) questionnaire. The original project data were collected by investigators from five universities, then uploaded to the internet server domain of the American University in Cairo (AUC) Social Research Center. Results: The prevalence of falls was 11.07% (95% CI: 7.95-15.21). Falls were significantly more among 70 years or older (p < 0.001), unemployed or housewives (p = 0.026), have a family caregiver (p = 0.022), and home facilities for disability (p = 0.015). They had significantly higher rates of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, and diabetes mellitus. The most frequently reported problems were the fear of fall and dizziness (62.5%). The multivariate analysis identified the history of stroke and diabetes mellitus, the fear of fall and dizziness, and the total number of health problems and the score of difficulty in performing physical activities as significant independent predictors of fall occurrence. The history of stroke was the strongest risk factor (OR 33.49, CI: 3.45-325.40). Discussion and recommendations: The prevalence of falls among old age persons in the studied community is not alarmingly high. It is highest among stroke patients. Community interventions and rehabilitation programs are recommended to train and educate old age people, especially those at risk such as stroke and diabetic patients, and those with dizziness to improve their physical fitness and reduce the fear of fall among them.

The diabetic foot and leg: combined He-Ne and infrared low-intensity lasers improve skin blood perfusion and prevent potential complications. A prospective study on 30 Egyptian patients.

The objective of this study was to examine skin blood flow in diabetic patients having disease-related skin lesions, and to evaluate possible improvement imposed by low-intensity laser therapy (LILT) as a new treatment modality. Thirty patients (in addition to 15 controls receiving conventional treatment = group II and 15 others receiving no treatment = group III) having diabetes-related skin lesions were tested for skin blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry. Group I patients received LILT by a specified dosimetry. This was by combined uniform He-Ne and infrared lasers delivered by a scanner over the affected area. This study used a paired t test to determine the significance of blood flow recovery after treatment within each group while Independent t test compared results between the three groups. The level of significance was p < 0.05. The most frequently detected diabetes specific skin lesions were dryness, nail changes, hair loss, infections, itching, and frank eczema-like reactions, mostly in combinations (76%). This pattern appears specific for Egyptians as it is different from data registered in foreign literature. The minimum perfusion flow improved from 16.45 before LILT to 25.94 after, while maximum flow recovered from 32.91 to 48.47 and basal perfusion changed from 24.68 to 34.84 blood perfusion units. The percentage change in perfusion values was 23.17. All these were statistically significant. The study demonstrates that diabetes-linked skin lesions have a special pattern in Egyptians and are apparently caused by deranged skin blood flow .The deficit is measurable by laser flowmetry and can be partially reversed by LILT.