Fall Characteristics Among Elderly Populations in Urban and Rural Areas in Korea

Abstract

BackgroundFalling is one of the leading causes of injury among elderly populations. As the population over 65 years old increases, medical costs due to falling will also increase. Urban and rural areas have different fall characteristics, and research into these differences is lacking.MethodsA survey was conducted on 2,012 people over 60 years old between September 1, 2015 to October 12, 2015. Guro-gu (Seoul), Yeongdeungpo-gu (Seoul), and Jung-gu (Daegu) were classified as urban areas and included 1,205 of the study participants. Dalseong-gun (Daegu) and Yangpyeong-gun (Gyeonggi-do) were categorized as rural areas and included 807 participants. Several region characteristics, including population density, were considered to distinguish between urban and rural areas. The survey included questions about fall history, cause, season and time of recent falls, and external conditions associated with recent falls, like floor or ground material and shoe types.ResultsRural respondents were older than urban respondents (p<0.001) but did not differ significantly in gender proportion (p=0.082). Fall history over the past year was not different between the two regions (p=0.693), but lifetime fall history was greater among rural respondents (p<0.001). Only 5.1% of all respondents had undergone fall-prevention education. A slippery floor was the most common cause of falls in both regions, but there was a significant difference in pattern of fall causes (p<0.001). Falls were more frequent in the summer, spring, and the afternoon in urban areas, and in the summer, autumn, and the morning in rural areas. Cement and asphalt were the most common ground materials at the time of falls in both regions, but rural respondents had higher fall rates when walking on soil and when wearing slippers.ConclusionsA fall-prevention program that reflects the characteristics and differences of falls in urban and rural areas should be developed and used to effectively prevent falling among elderly people.

Cancer Incidence Trend in the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Area, from 1999 to 2014: An Ecological Study

“…In this study, we selected comparison areas that are similar to Taean in terms of their characteristics, such as the predominance of the farming, fishing, and tourism industries [ 37 , 55 ], and also the population sizes and proportion of elderly adults (in Figure 1 ). Cancer incidence rates vary between cities and rural areas [ 56 ].…”

“…The observed cancer incidence rate and trend were compared with those observed nationwide and in similar coastal areas. We selected three coastal areas which had a population size that was similar to that of Taean County, with similar regional characteristics [ 37 ]. Area “a” is located in the same province and the same coastal area, area “b” in the neighboring province and the same coastal area, and area “c” in a different province and on a different coast ( Figure 1 ).…”