Risk factors for fear of falling in the elderly in Serbia

Abstract

Background/Aim. After a fall, the elderly can develop a fear of falling which can be more frequent and more serious problem than the fall itself because it represents the main factor limiting an older person in his/her everyday functioning. The aim of this study was to identify and examine, in a more detailed way, risk factors for developing fear of falling triggered by the history of their falls over the previous year in the elderly in Serbia who live in houses or apartments. Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 people, mean age 75.04 years (min. 65, max. 94), randomly selected from the register of patients in the Primary Health Center of Niš (164 men and 236 women), in the period January-June 2014. Socio-demographic questionnaire-Elderly Fall Screening Test (EFST), Multi-Factor Questionnaire Falls (MFQ) and Falls Efficacy Scale International (FESI) were used in this study. Results. After applying the multivariate binary logistic regression, it was found that significant predictors for developing fear of falling were as follows: female gender (OR = 2.599; p = 0.009), age 75-79 years (OR = 4.637; p = 0.009) and over 80 years (OR = 3.830; p = 0.001), increase in household members (OR = 1.206; p = 0.033), people who estimate their health as average (OR = 0.268; p < 0.001) and good (OR = 0.059; p < 0.001), number of falls higher than 2 (OR = 2.761; p = 0.003), presence of injuries during the fall (OR = 2.483; p = 0.028), periodical and repeating situations of "near-fall" (OR = 3.830; p = 0.001), limited activity (OR = 2.124; p = 0.007) problems with sight (OR = 3.006; p < 0.001), cognitive problems (OR = 2.296; p = 0.005) and problems with balance (OR = 3.809; p < 0.001). Conclusion. The results of this study can be used for planning promotional programs for falls and a fear of falling prevention, as well as prevention of their consequences.

Identifying elderly persons who are at risk of falling and fall risk factors in the general population

“…These factors include sociodemographic factors [23], the history of falls [24], the health status, e.g., arthritis [25], osteoporosis [26], visual problems [27], problems with urination [28], balance disorder and stroke [29], cognitive status [30], orthostatic hypotension [31]. Our results confirm these facts and suggest that many fall risk factors are directly responsible for developing the fear of falling [32].…”

Relationship between the frequency of falls, fear of falling and functional abilities in women aged 65 and over

“…Pioneering research conducted in the Republic of Serbia on the identification of the elderly at risk of falling and the risk factor for falling (8), and risk factors for the onset of fear of falling (9) showed that age was a predictive risk factor for decline.…”

“…In the Republic of Serbia, pioneering research on the identification of older people at risk of falling (8), risk factors for falling and fear of falling (9) were conducted. In all of these studies, female gender has proved to be a predictive risk factor for falling.…”

The marginalization of the elderly in Serbia

“…Истраживања су показала да страх од пада у највећем проценту постоји код жена, особа старости између 75 година и 79 година и 80 и више година, особа које су имале више од два пада и повреде настале приликом пада, особa које су повремено и често у ситуацији "близу" пада, лица које имају проблема с видом, итд. (Ivanović, Trgovčević, 2018…”

“…Research has shown that the highest percentage of fears of falls occur with women between the ages of 75 and 79 and 80 and over, people who have had more than two falls and present injuries resulting from the fall, people who are occasionally and oft en in a situation of "near" fall, people with vision problems, etc. (Ivanović, Trgovčević, 2018) 12 .…”