Gender Differences in Risk Factors for Single and Recurrent Falls Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify gender differences in risk factors of fall accidents among older people, and whether these factors differ between single and recurrent fallers. A total of 4,426 individuals aged ≥65 years from two large-scale health surveys provided data. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors and to determine the risk model for falling and recurrent falling in men and women separately. Three major risk factors for falling regardless of gender or fall history are fear of falling, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), and age ≥75 years. Fear of falling remains one of the common modifiable risk factors. Among those without a fall history, the use of sedatives or tranquilizers increases the risk of falling. Regarding gender differences, ADL limitations and fear of falling appear to be stronger fall risk factors for men than for women. Among women, alcohol use and educational level are significant risk factors for falling, while loneliness is associated with recurrent falling. Men with fear of falling or ADL limitations are at higher risk to have a recurrent fall accident than women with these conditions. Having a visual impairment or living with someone is associated with recurrent falling among men. Our findings emphasize the importance of multifactorial fall interventions, taking into account a variety of subgroup characteristics such as gender and fall history.

Individual and Neighborhood Factors Associated With Functional Mobility and Falls in Elderly Residents of São Paulo, Brazil: A Multilevel Analysis

“…The prevalence of falls varies among different regions of the world. While we found a percentage of 29.3% of falls during the last year, a study conducted in Amsterdam found a result of 34% (Yu & El Fakiri, 2015), and a Chinese study found 14.1% (Chu, Chiu, & Chi, 2008). These differences may be due to population characteristics, such as behavior, culture, and environmental aspects as previous studies indicate that Asian elders are more physically active than other older adult populations (Hallal et al, 2012).…”

Validity and Reliability of the Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale Short Version in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Turkey

“…Especially in those who experience repeated falls, this limitation becomes more apparent, and they have to cope with the fear of falling. 3 Therefore, it is necessary to assess both falls and the fear of falling in older adults. 4 Fear of falling was initially evaluated only by revealing whether individuals were concerned of falling.…”

“…All these possibilities lead older adults to develop a fear of falling, which they try to reduce by restricting their activities. Especially in those who experience repeated falls, this limitation becomes more apparent, and they have to cope with the fear of falling 3. Therefore, it is necessary to assess both falls and the fear of falling in older adults 4…”

Understanding the Association of Older Adult Fall Risk Factors by Age and Sex Through Factor Analysis

“…The prevalence of certain risk factors [e.g., depression (Girgus et al, 2017), dementia (van der Flier & Scheltens, 2005), stroke (Appelros et al, 2009), binge drinking (Blazer & Wu, 2009), diabetes (Andes et al, 2019), and difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADL) (Liang J. et al, 2008)] differ by age and sex in the older adult population. The strength of association of falls with some risk factors [e.g., ADLs (O & El Fakiri, 2015), alcohol consumption (Chang & Do, 2015;O & El Fakiri, 2015), depression (Gale et al, 2016;Gale et al, 2018), and balance (Gale et al, 2016(Gale et al, , 2018] differs by sex. The number of co-morbidities increase with age (Vogeli et al, 2007), and some diseases cluster together more often than others (Bhattacharjee et al, 2017;Sinnige J. et al, 2013).…”