The Determinants of Fall in the Elderly at the Geriatric Center of Ouakam (Senegal)

Abstract

In Sénégal, the reality of falls in the elderly, despite their being a serious problem, are not well-known to the général public because the epidemiological data do not take them into account. This study aims at analyzing falls in elderly people who come for consultation at the gerontology and geriatrics center of Ouakam, focusing in particular on their frequency and their determinants. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted from May 9 to July 10, 2016 at the Gerontology and Geriatrics Center. The population under investigation consisted of 210 patients with a female prédominance (61%), an average age of 69 years, 72% married, 22% practiced physical activity, 54% had a normal weight, 58% took more of a medicine. The most common pathologies were visual acuity (70%), arterial hypertension (52%), osteoarthritis (25%)... The most prescribed drug classes were hypotensives (33%), analgesics (13%), antidiabetics drugs (10%). The frequency of the falls in our population was 27% and they usually occurred at home (65%). The determinants of the falls were soil barriers (35%), loss of balance (22%), wet surfaces (16%), stairs (8%)... The number of medications taken per patient was only one factor statistically correlated with the number of falls. Bruising accounted for most of the mechanical complications (62%) but all patients had developed a phobia for falling again. Recommendations have been made for better management of these falls.