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Fall Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly Depending on Their Physical Function, Cognitive Status and Symptoms of Depression

Author

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  • Magdalena Sylwia Kamińska

    (Department of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Jacek Brodowski

    (Department of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Beata Karakiewicz

    (Public Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

Abstract

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries and injury-related disability, morbidity and mortality in the geriatric population. Therefore, they may also lower quality of life. The aim of this study was to analyze the fall risk factors in the community-dwelling elderly depending on their physical function, cognitive status and symptoms of depression. The study involved 304 individuals aged 65–100 years with a mean age of 78.6 ± 7.4. This survey-based study was conducted using the Geriatric Environmental Inquiry, the Barthel Scale (BS), the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Tinetti Test (TT). There was a statistically significant correlation between the BS, the TT and the incidence of falls ( p < 0.05). The number of falls correlated significantly with the results of the BS (R = −0.39), the GDS (R = 0.18), and the TT (R = −0.40). A statistically significant correlation was also noted between the TT results and the results of the BS (R = 0.77), the AMTS (R = 0.40) and the GDS (R = −0.37). The incidence of falls may significantly increase in people with a lower functional status, which may be related to cognitive process disturbances and lower affective functioning. A comprehensive geriatric assessment, related to all aspects of advanced-age patients’ efficiency, is recommended. Fall prevention strategies should include actions undertaken to evaluate and treat depression and cognitive disturbances.

Suggested Citation

  • Magdalena Sylwia Kamińska & Jacek Brodowski & Beata Karakiewicz, 2015. "Fall Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly Depending on Their Physical Function, Cognitive Status and Symptoms of Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:4:p:3406-3416:d:47222
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tadashi Uno & Masaya Fujino & Atsushi Ohwaki & Masahiro Horiuchi, 2019. "Prevalence of Falls on Mount Fuji and Associated with Risk Factors: A Questionnaire Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-11, October.
    2. Lourdes Bujalance Díaz & María Jesús Casuso-Holgado & María Teresa Labajos-Manzanares & Francisco Javier Barón-López & Elena Pinero-Pinto & Rita Pilar Romero-Galisteo & Noelia Moreno-Morales, 2020. "Analysis of Fall Risk Factors in an Aging Population Living in Long-Term Care Institutions in SPAIN: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-10, October.
    3. Siti Farhana Mesbah & Norhasmah Sulaiman & Zalilah Mohd Shariff & Zuriati Ibrahim, 2020. "Does Food Insecurity Contribute towards Depression? A Cross-Sectional Study among the Urban Elderly in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-9, April.
    4. Chen-Yi Song & Jau-Yih Tsauo & Pei-Hsin Fang & I-Yao Fang & Shao-Hsi Chang, 2021. "Physical Fitness among Community-Dwelling Older Women with and without Risk of Falling—The Taipei Study, Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-8, July.

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