Epidemiology of fall and its risk factors among elders in a rural area of Coimbatore, India

Authors

  • Thomas V. Chacko Department of Medical Education and Community Medicine, Believers Church Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
  • Prabha Thangaraj Department of Community Medicine, Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Muhammad G. M. Department of Community Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20174265

Keywords:

Elderly, Fall, Prevalence, Risk factors

Abstract

Background: Global reports show that falls are the major cause of disability injuries among the elders. Developing countries lack the required epidemiological data on the burden of falls and factors that contribute to it.The objectives of the study were to find the burden of fall and its distribution in time, place and person among elders and to identify risk factors associated with fall among elders.

Methods: A community–based cross-sectional study of 655 elders (≥ 60 years) was done in a rural area of Coimbatore District by two stage sampling technique. History of fall within the past 6 months was included in the study. Semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess factors contributing to falls. The burden of falls was expressed as proportions and percentages. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify risk factors for fall.

Results: 26% (95%CI: 22.59-29.32) elders experienced at least one fall. Of the total falls 50.2% occurred outside home and the remaining inside home. Most of the falls occurred during ambulation and at the morning hours (39.1%). Age ≥80 years (OR: 3.28, 95%CI: 1.28-5.98) and dizziness (OR: 3.27, 95%CI: 1.00-10.06) were only found to be significantly associated with fall on multivariate analysis.

Conclusions: The occurrence of fall was found to be almost similar to that identified in western countries where fall preventive measures have been implemented. Similar efforts are yet to be initiated here and so this study provides the evidence for the need. Prospective studies through more frequent home visits are needed to confirm the enormity of the problem to suggest policy recommendation. 

Author Biographies

Thomas V. Chacko, Department of Medical Education and Community Medicine, Believers Church Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India

Department of Medical Education & Community Medicine, Believers Church Medical College & Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India

Prabha Thangaraj, Department of Community Medicine, Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor, Community medicine,

Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Trichy.
DR MGR University

Muhammad G. M., Department of Community Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Department of Community Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Science & Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

References

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Ageing. Available at: http://www.unfpa.org/ageing. Accessed on 15 August 2016.

Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nation. Concise Report on the World Population Situation in 2014. Available at: http://www.un.org/ en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/trends/Concise%20Report%20on%20the%20World%20Population%20Situation%202014/en.pdf. Accessed on 15 August 2016

HelpAge India. Assessment of Old Age Home in Madhya Pradesh, 2014. Available at: http://socialjustice.mp.gov.in/Portal/Public/View.ashx?id=249%20&Mode=News. Accessed on 15 August 2016

Sharma OP. Textbook of Geriatrics and Gerontology. 3rd ed. Vivabooks: 2005;2-4:610-4.

World Health Organization. WHO Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age. 2007. Available at: www.who.int/ageing/publications/Falls_prevention7March.pdf. Accessed on 15 August 2016.

Patil SS, Suryanarayana SP, Dinesh R, Shivraj NS, Murthy NS. Risk factors for falls among elderly: A community-based study. Int J Health Allied Sci. 2015;4(3):135.

Hestekin H, Tristan OD, Williams JS, Kowal P, Peltzer K, Chatterji S. Measuring prevalence and risk factors for fall-related injury in older adults in low-and middle-income countries: results from the WHO Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE). Working paper No.6. 2013: 1-28.

Murray CJ, Vos T, Lozano R, Naghavi M, Flaxman AD, Michaud C, Ezzati M, Shibuya K, Salomon JA, Abdalla S, Aboyans V. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The lancet. 2013;380(9859):2197-223.

Johnson CS, Stevens A, Rajan I. Promotion of healthy aging in the context of population aging phenomenon: a look at the aging state in India. Indian J Gerontol. 2005;19:181-92.

Chandran A, Hyder AA, Peek-Asa C. The global burden of unintentional injuries and an agenda for progress. Epidemiologic reviews. 2010;32(1):110-20.

Kalula SZ, Scott V, Dowd A, Brodrick K. Falls and fall prevention programmes in developing countries: environmental scan for the adaptation of the Canadian falls prevention curriculum for developing countries. J Safety Res. 2011;42(6):461-72.

Krishnaswamy B, Usha G. Falls in older people: national/regional review India. Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: WHO background paper to the global report on falls among older persons. 2007. Available at: http://www.who.int/ageing/projects/SEARO.pdf. Accessed 15 August 2016.

Lord SR, Sherrington C, Menz HB, Close JC. Falls in older people: risk factors and strategies for prevention. Cambridge University Press; 2007.

Dsouza SA, Rajashekar B, Dsouza HS, Kumar KB. Falls in Indian older adults: a barrier to active ageing. Asian J Gerontol Geriatr. 2014;9(1):1-8.

Patil SS, Suryanarayana SP. Circumstances and Consequences of Falls in Community-Living Elderly in North Bangalore Karnataka. J Krishna Institute of Med Sci. 2015;4(4):27-35.

Joshi K, Kumar R, Avasthi A. Morbidity profile and its relationship with disability and psychological distress among elderly people in Northern India. Int J Epidemiol. 2003;32(6):978-87.

Bhanderi DJ, Choudhary S. A study of occurrence of domestic accidents in semi-urban community. Indian J Community Med. 2008;33(2):104.

Graafmans WC, Ooms ME, Hofstee HM, Bezemer PD, Bouter LM, Lips PT. Falls in the elderly: a prospective study of risk factors and risk profiles. American J Epidemiol. 1996;143(11):1129-36.

Northridge ME, Nevitt MC, Kelsey JL, Link B. Home hazards and falls in the elderly: the role of health and functional status. Am J Public Health. 1995;85(4):509-15.

Berg WP, Alessio HM, Mills EM, Tong C. Circumstances and consequences of falls in independent community-dwelling older adults. Age and ageing. 1997;26(4):261-8.

D'souza SA, Shringarpure A, Karol J. Circumstances and Consequences of Falls in Indian older adults. Indian J Occupational Therapy. 2008;40(1):1-12.

Luukinen H, Koski K, Laippala P, Kivelä SL. Predictors for recurrent falls among the home-dwelling elderly. Scandinavian J Primary Health Care. 1995;13(4):294-9.

Campbell AJ, Borrie MJ, Spears GF, Jackson SL, Brown JS, Fitzgerald JL. Circumstances and consequences of falls experienced by a community population 70 years and over during a prospective study. Age and ageing. 1990;19(2):136-41.

Public Health Agency of Canada. Division of Aging, Seniors. Report on seniors' falls in Canada. Division of Aging and Seniors, Public Health Agency of Canada; 2005. Available at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/HP25-1-2005E.pdf. Accessed on 15 August 2016.

Fabre JM. Identification of Falls Risk Factors in Community-dwelling Older Adults: Validation of the Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument (Doctoral dissertation, Louisiana State University).

Russell MA, Hill KD, Day LM, Blackberry I, Gurrin LC, Dharmage SC. Development of the Falls Risk for Older People in the Community (FROP-Com) screening tool. Age and ageing. 2009;38(1):40-6.

Downloads

Published

2017-09-22

How to Cite

Chacko, T. V., Thangaraj, P., & G. M., M. (2017). Epidemiology of fall and its risk factors among elders in a rural area of Coimbatore, India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 4(10), 3864–3869. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20174265

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles