Can we prevent falls in older individuals?

Abstract

Falls are a major public health problem globally. Each year, 2.8 million elderly people (defined as those aged ≥65) are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. A questionnaire containing 15 questions, prepared by researchers, was provided to patients who visited the emergency department due to falls and were aged ≥65. Patients who had fallen on the ground were included in the study group and were categorized using the following criteria: age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, life spots, falling location, chronic illnesses, previous falling episodes, cause of falls, medications used, hospital procedures undergone and the outcome of those procedures. A questionnaire was given to 159 patients that visited our emergency department as a result off all. When those patients that did not respond to the questionnaires, those who had high falls, and those who did not remember their traumas were excluded, there were 119 remaining. There were 83 female participants (69.7%) and 79.87 (SD, 7.98) were participants in the study. In our study, 21 (17.6%) patients were identified as having had previous falls. Age, gender, education status, living environment, number of drugs used, diseases and p values were compared according to old operative emoticons: 0.434, 0.855, 0.607, 0.502, 0.778, 0.324and 0.384, and there are no significant statistical differences between them. Despite the challenges mentioned above, educating people about the benefits of healthy ageing, and taking preventive measures will likely help to reduce negative outcomes in the future.