Ana María Leiva1, Claudia Troncoso-Pantoja2, María Adela Martínez-Sanguinetti3, Fanny Petermann-Rocha4, Felipe Poblete-Valderrama5, Igor Cigarroa-Cuevas6, Carlos Celis-Morales7. 1. Instituto de Anatomía, Histología y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. 2. Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile. 3. Instituto de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. 4. Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom. 5. Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Sede Valdivia, Chile. 6. Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, sede Los Ángeles, Chile. 7. BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A decrease in functional capacity due to ageing is one of the main risk factors for falls in older people. AIM: To investigate factors associated with falls in Chilean older adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the self-reports of falls of 1,334 people aged ≥ 60 years who answered the National Health Survey 2009-2010. Falls during the last 12 months were recorded. Lifestyle, socio-demographic and health status were analyzed. A Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was performed to identify factors associated with falls. RESULTS: Falls during the preceding year were reported by 37% of respondents (95% confidence intervals (CI): 32-42]. Fall frequency was higher in women (Prevalence ratio (PR):1.30 [95% CI:1.11; 1.53], p < 0.01) and those aged ≥ 75 years (PR:1.29 [95% CI:1.04; 1.61], p = 0.02). Hearing impairment (PR: 1.31 [95% CI: 1.07; 1.61], p < 0.01), impaired vision (PR:1.46 [95% CI:1.20; 1.77], p < 0.01), low self-reported wellbeing (PR: 1.41 [95% CI: 1.03; 1.94], p = 0.03) and disability (PR: 1.54 [95% CI:1.32; 1.79], p < 0.01) were associated with falls. However, multimorbidity (having ≥ 3 diseases) was negatively associated with falls (PR: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.63; 0.99], p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Among older people, female sex, being aged > 75 years and having disability, hearing or vision impairment are risk factors for falls.
BACKGROUND: A decrease in functional capacity due to ageing is one of the main risk factors for falls in older people. AIM: To investigate factors associated with falls in Chilean older adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the self-reports of falls of 1,334 people aged ≥ 60 years who answered the National Health Survey 2009-2010. Falls during the last 12 months were recorded. Lifestyle, socio-demographic and health status were analyzed. A Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was performed to identify factors associated with falls. RESULTS: Falls during the preceding year were reported by 37% of respondents (95% confidence intervals (CI): 32-42]. Fall frequency was higher in women (Prevalence ratio (PR):1.30 [95% CI:1.11; 1.53], p < 0.01) and those aged ≥ 75 years (PR:1.29 [95% CI:1.04; 1.61], p = 0.02). Hearing impairment (PR: 1.31 [95% CI: 1.07; 1.61], p < 0.01), impaired vision (PR:1.46 [95% CI:1.20; 1.77], p < 0.01), low self-reported wellbeing (PR: 1.41 [95% CI: 1.03; 1.94], p = 0.03) and disability (PR: 1.54 [95% CI:1.32; 1.79], p < 0.01) were associated with falls. However, multimorbidity (having ≥ 3 diseases) was negatively associated with falls (PR: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.63; 0.99], p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Among older people, female sex, being aged > 75 years and having disability, hearing or vision impairment are risk factors for falls.