Risk of Falling and Associated Factors in Older Adults in a Tertiary Center in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71637/tnhj.v25i1.960Keywords:
Falls, risk factors, older adult, preventionAbstract
Background: Falls in elderly persons are often neglected in routine clinical practice both by the clinicians and the caregivers. Understanding the risk factors associated with falls shall enable clinicians to have a higher index suspicion and mitigate the burden of falls in the elderly population.
Aim: To determine the prevalence, risk factors and relationship of falls among the elderly patients attending the General Outpatient Clinics of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, with a view to stemming the morbidity and mortality associated with falls in elderly.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was done with 282 elderly patients aged 60 years and above, using a systematic random sampling technique for recruitment of participants. Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used for the analysis.
Results: The prevalence of fall was 33% (95% CI: 27.5% - 38.8%) and the highest fall occurred among the 60 - 74 years. People with high risk of fall were three times more likely to fall when compared to people with low risk. According to the logistic regression analysis, solitary lifestyle and monogamy increased the risk of fall, whereas lower levels of education were significant protective factors for falls in elderly persons
Conclusion: Falls are associated with a rise in morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Routine screening for risk factors of falls and early intervention are important preventive measures in primary care.
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