A study on risk factors for falling down in elderly people of rural areas in Laizhou City / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the status and risk factors for falling down in elderly people in rural areas, and to provide evidences for preventions. Methods A total of 1 003 farmers aged 60 years old and over were surveyed to study the falls occurred during the previous 12 months before March 2001 in the elderly in a town of Laizhou City by cluster sampling method. Results The average incidence of falling down was 22.6%, 15.9% for men and 28.4% for women, respectively. The risk factors of falls included gender, age, single-living, falling history in the previous year, at least combined two kinds of chronic diseases, manifesting at least two symptoms, gait abnormalities, as well as complaining poor physical status and poorer general conditions than the previous year. Less social actions was negatively associated with the falls. Conclusions The falling in the elderly walkers results from an outcome of combination of multifactors. Since the complex pathogenesis, it should be prevented by a combination of several methods.