Factors Associated with Fall Risk in the Elderly

Year 2024, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 305 - 314

Zehra Can Karahan , Fatma Nur Seymen , Ayşenur Özcan , Ceyhun Türkmen

https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1423200

Abstract

Purpose: Falls are a significant health concern for older adults. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing fall risk in elderly individuals.

Materials and Methods: A total of 110 participants aged 65 and older were evaluated. Data on demographic characteristics and the number of falls in the past year were recorded. Various physical and cognitive assessments were conducted, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognitive abilities, Functional Reach Test (FRT) for anteroposterior balance, Tandem Stance Test (TST) for lateral balance, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for overall balance, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) for functional mobility, 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test (1-MST) for lower extremity strength, and cervical proprioception measurements.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 71.26±6.20 years and experienced 0.41±1.02 falls in the past year. The following mean values were observed: TST time: 25.95±7.93 seconds, MoCA: 18.65±4.90, FRT: 21.83±8.38 cm, BBT: 51.11±4.47, TUG: 12.01±3.89 seconds, 1-MSTST: 18.61±8.23 repetitions, and cervical proprioception error: 15.49±13.01%. No statistically significant correlation was found between fall frequency and age (r=-0.081, p=0.399), height (r=-0.030, p=0.756), TST (r=0.144, p=0.134), cognitive level (r=-0.015, p=0.878), BBT (r=-0.079, p=0.414), and cervical proprioception (r=-0.135, p=0.160). Men reported more falls than women, with an odds ratio of 3.14 (95% CI: 1.21-8.14).

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the factors associated with falls among older adults. The findings highlight the importance of gender as a key factor in falls and reveal the potential influence of body weight, balance, cervical proprioception, and age on fall risk.

Keywords

balance, elderly, fall, proprioception

Yaşlılarda Düşme Riski ile İlgili Faktörler

Abstract

Amaç: Düşme yaşlı yetişkinlerde çok yaygın olarak görülen önemli bir problemdir. Çalışmanın amacı, yaşlı bireylerde düşme riski ile ilgili faktörleri incelemektir.

Araçlar ve Yöntem: Çalışmada 65 yaş üstü 110 birey incelendi. Bireylerin demografik bilgileri ve son 1 yıl içerisindeki düşme sayıları kaydedildi. Katılımcıların bilişsel becerileri Montreal Bilişsel Değerlendirme (MoCa) Ölçeği ile, anteriyoposterior dinamik denge Fonksiyonel Uzanma Testi (FUT) ile, lateral denge Tandem Duruş Testi (TDT) ile, denge ve düşme olasılığı Berg Denge Testi (BDT), fonksiyonel hareketlilik Zamanlı Kalk Yürü Testi (ZKYT) ile, alt ekstermite enduransı ve fonksiyonel kas gücü 1-Dakikalık otur-kalk Tesi (1-DOKT) ile ve servikal propriosepsiyon stabilizatör ile değerlendirildi.

Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 71.26±6.20'dir ve son bir yıl içinde 0.41±1.02 düşme yaşamışlardır. TDT süresi: 25.95±7.93 saniye, MoCa: 18.65±4.90, FUT: 21.83±8.38 cm, BDT: 51.11±4.47, ZKYT: 12.01±3.89 saniye, 1-DOKT: 18,61±8,23 tekrar, servikal propriyosepsiyon hatası: % 15.49±13.01 olarak bulundu. Düşme sayısı ile yaş (r=-0.081, p=0.399), boy (r=-0.030, p=0.756), TDT (r=0.144, p=0.134), bilişsel düzey (r=-0.015, p=0.878), BBT(r=-0.079, p=0.414) ve servikal propriyosepsiyon(r=-0.135, p=0.160) arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olmayan negatif bir korelasyon görüldü. Erkekler kadınlara kıyasla daha fazla düşme bildirmiştir ve olasılık oranı 3.14'tür (%95 güven aralığı: 1.21-8.14).

Sonuç: Bu çalışma, yaşlı insanlar arasında düşmelerle ilişkili faktörlere dair değerli bilgiler sunmaktadır. Bulgular, düşmelerde kilit bir faktör olarak cinsiyetin önemini göstermekte ve vücut ağırlığı, denge, servikal propriosepsiyon ve yaşın düşme olasılığı üzerindeki olası etkisini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

denge, düşme, propriyosepsiyon, yaşlı

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