Falling and Chronic Diseases among the Elderly: Result from AHAP study

Abstract

Background: Falling and chronic diseases are important health issues in elderly people and reduce the quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic diseases and falling in the elderly people. Methods: This cross-sectional study came from the first phase of Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP) that has been done on all elderly people aged 60 and over in Amirkola city in northern part of Iran. Demographic information including chronic diseases were gathered through self-report, observation of prescriptions and consumed drugs by patients and prevalence of falling during 12 months ago was obtained through information form and interview with elderly people. Results: In this study, 883 men(54.6%) and 733 women(45.3%) were investigated. The average age of individuals was 69.37±7.42 (in men 70±7.7 and in women 69.7±7.00). In this study, 288(17.8%) of eldely people had the experience of falling in the last 12 months. The prevalence of falling was higher in elderly women(P<0.001) and the elderly who lived alone(P=0.01). The prevalence of falling in the elderly had a significant relationship with diseases of osteoporosis(P<0.001), myocardial infarction(P=0.03), fractures(P<0.001), cognitive impairment(P=0.001), headache(P=0.002). In addition, the results of logistic regression showed that the prevalence of falling was related to urinary incontinence(P=0.02), fracture history(P=0.001), hearing loss(P=0.006), and depressive symptoms(P=0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a significant prevalence of falling and its direct relation with some chronic diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to ask some questions and care about each referring of the elderly to the health centers.