Diabetes, arthritis, urinary incontinence, poor self‐rated health, higher body mass index and lower handgrip strength are associated with falls among community‐dwelling middle‐aged and older adults: Pooled analyses from two cross‐sectional Malaysian datasets

Abstract

Aim The identification of risk factors associated with comorbidities and physical fitness might provide pathways for planning therapeutic targets for future falls prevention. Results from large datasets that examined falls risk factors in Asia have been limited. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for falls by pooling data consisting of medical history, physical performance and self‐rated health from two large Malaysian epidemiological studies. Methods Matching variables from the Towards Useful Aging and Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research datasets related to falls, physical performance and determinants of falls were identified and pooled for analysis. The Timed Up and Go test and dominant handgrip strength tests were used as physical performance measures. Falls were self‐reported, and functional status was assessed using activities of daily living. Results Data of 3935 participants, mean age 68.9 ± 6.8 years, 2127 (54.0%) women and 1807 (46.0%) men were extracted for analyses. In an adjusted model, independent risk factors for falls from this cohort studies were diabetes (OR 1.258), arthritis (OR 1.366), urinary incontinence (OR 1.346), poor self‐rated health (OR 1.293), higher body mass index (OR 1.029) and lower handgrip strength (OR 1.234). Conclusions Although the risk factors that emerged from our analyses were similar to available studies among older adults, the Timed Up and Go test did not appear as one of the risk factors in the present study that included middle‐aged adults. Our findings will require confirmation in a prospective study. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 798–803.

Incidence and Multidimensional Predictors of Occasional and Recurrent Falls among Malaysian Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…Besides, strengthening of lower limb muscles has been reported to be effective in preventing falls in older adults [35]. Similarly, we have demonstrated that muscle strength was associated with falls among Malaysian community-dwelling older adults in our earlier pooled data ndings [36].…”

Prevalence and factors associated with falls among older persons in Malaysia

“…Diabetes mellitus was a prominent risk factor of falls among the population included in the NHMS 2018 confirming the findings of previous local studies. 4,14 A meta-analysis found that older persons with diabetes mellitus had a 64% greater risk of falls with an overall increased risk of 94% and 27% among those who are insulin and non-insulin treated respectively. 25 In a study conducted in Japan among individuals aged ≥60 years, individuals with diabetes hypoglycemia are more likely to experience multiple falls.…”

“…1 Risk factors of falls that have been identified include gender, age, education, living situation, history of falling, fear of falling, various health conditions including muscle weakness, joint paints, vertigo, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, psychiatric disorders, urinary incontinence, poor self-rated health, higher body mass index, lower handgrip strength, visual disorders, gait and balance impairments. [4][5][6][7][8] Difficulties in performing activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) were also identified as possible risk factors for falling accidents among older persons. [6][7][8][9] Medication use is also associated with an increased risk of falls among older persons.…”

“…However, the generalizability of these previous studies were limited, as they were conducted among disease-specific, residential care or isolated communities with relatively small samples. 4,5,[14][15][16][17] Few falls studies have been conducted in Malaysia or South-East Asia in general. 18 Furthermore, the evidence for effective interventions in the Asian continent is also lacking.…”

“…As falls may be attributed to physical, sensory and cognitive changes associated with aging, in combination with environments that are not adapted for an aging population, the burden of falls is also expected to increase with population aging 1 . Risk factors of falls that have been identified include gender, age, education, living situation, history of falling, fear of falling, various health conditions including muscle weakness, joint paints, vertigo, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, psychiatric disorders, urinary incontinence, poor self‐rated health, higher body mass index, lower handgrip strength, visual disorders, gait and balance impairments 4–8 . Difficulties in performing activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) were also identified as possible risk factors for falling accidents among older persons 6–9 .…”