Prevalence and risk factors for falls in urban and rural older adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed and compared the risk factors for falls among older adults in rural and urban communities.Design: A comparative cross-sectional approach was used.Setting: The study was conducted among community-living older adults in the rural and urban communities of the most populated Local Government Area (Ado-Ekiti LGA) in Ekiti State.Participants: The study population consisted of 624 persons aged 65 years and above recruited into rural and urban groups using multi-stage random sampling.Main outcome measures: Data collected using validated tools and physical measurements were subjected to binary logistic regression to determine the odds of falls with relevant predictor variables among older adults in both groups.Results: A significantly higher proportion of participants in the urban than the rural group had experienced a fall , and the associated risks include low visual acuity, increasing age, arthritis, hearing impairment, hyperglycaemia and high BMI. Physical activity was a protective factor.Conclusion: This study revealed a high risk of falls among older adults in the urban community. Early diagnosis and management of chronic conditions that increase fall risk and promote physical activity, especially among urban-dwelling older adults, are vital measures to be considered in fall prevention programmes.

Obesity and falls injuries risk: Is there a relevant connection in older adults?

“…21 Additionally, to break any cycle of obesity and reinforcing sedentary practices, and their combined effect on chronic health problems of the older adult that may have a bearing on future bone injuries due to injurious falls, it also appears physical activity participation is strongly indicated. 22,23 To reduce the chances of an obese older adult sustaining a fracture, 8 those with evidence of sarcopenic obesity should be specifically targeted in this regard. 1,24 In particular, attention to muscle strength training is of particular import and of high relevance in this regard, because coupled with abdominal obesity, the presence of dynapenia or muscle strength losses tends to significantly increase the risk for incurring a fall in the older adult population, 25,26 especially in the face of hypovitaminosis D and bone fragility 1 and even after bariatric surgery in those with signs of dynapenia 27 who may fall independent of obesity, and fall repeatedly.…”

Therapeutic Exercises in Fall Prevention among Older Adults

“…The increase in the number of older adults may be dramatic, from 47.4 million in 2005 to two billion by 2050 [34]. In Nigeria, a fall prevalence rate of 23% was reported in 2010, with females experiencing a higher prevalence (24%) of falls compared to males (17.9%) [35,36]. In 2014, a prevalence rate of 27.8% was reported among older adults (65 years and above) in Nigeria [37].…”

Evaluating the discriminatory power of the velocity field diagram and timed-up-and-go test in determining the fall status of community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional observational study

“…These locations were selected following a rise in the number of falls involving resident older adults, who reported at the Physiotherapy unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. On assessment, several important risk factors of falls were identified in the communities and related to poor person-environment fit/built environment (especially the lack of sidewalks and unpaved roads in the villages causing slips and trips), and poor accessibility [36,37], dizziness/vestibular diseases, [38,39] history of falls, gait impairments (arthritis), use of walking aids, vertigo, and use of antidepressants/sedatives [37,40,41], smoking/tobacco use [42], alcohol consumption [43], diabetes [40,44], among others. Consequently, the research team planned a rural health education outreach programme on risk factors for falls and fall prevention strategies among older adults in the area.…”