RISK OF FALLS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG OLDER COLOMBIAN ADULTS: A SECONDARY SABE ANALYSIS

D.M. Diaz Vidal¹, P. Tadger Viloria², A.C. Quino Avila³, C. Sandoval Cuellar³, M.L. Alfonso Mora⁴, E. Monsalve Jaramillo³

¹Universidad de San Buenaventura, Bolivar, Cartagena, Colombia, ²Real World Evidence, IQVIA, Zaventem, Belgium, ³Universidad de Boyacá, Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia, ⁴Universidad de la Sabana, Cundinamarca, Chía, Colombia

Background: Changes in the aging process have significant clinical implications, such as falls. Knowing their risks facilitates clinical decision-making and public prevention policies.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the prevalence of risk of falling and their associated factors in older Colombian adults.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of a SABE Colombian study that included 18,049 older adults. The risk of falling was determined using the Downton scale, and its association with variables, such as age, height, weight, weight loss, alcohol consumption (in days), years of tobacco use, calf circumference, Barthel Index, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), signs and symptoms, fear of falling, and architectural barriers outside and inside the home, was investigated. The Lasso method was used to perform multiple analyses on the selected variables.

Results: Being independent in performing basic activities of daily living, as measured by the Barthel Index (odds ratio [OR], 0.92), the absence of dangers at home (OR, 0.98), needing assistance for medication management (OR, 0.66), transportation (OR, 0.83), having a weight above the average of 78.15 kg (OR, 99%), and fewer years as a smoker (OR, 0.99) showed no positive association with the risk of falling.

Conclusions: According to the Downton scale, the prevalence of RF was 29%. Age, back pain, calf circumference, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, fear of falling, shortness of breath while awake, and tiredness were associated with its risk.

Implications: There are modifiable and nonmodifiable factors, which are inherent to the aging process, that increase the risk of falling among the elderly. However, therapeutic interventions must recognize the importance of the variables that, according to the present study, protect against the risk of falling, thus minimizing side effects. The identification of factors that are positively associated with and those that reduce the prevalence of the risk of falling in the elderly allows for actions to be taken in the various programs aimed at this population, contributing to the improvement of the biopsychosocial aspect of the elderly and the reduction of health costs.

Keywords:
Fall
Gerontology
Risk

Topics:
Older people
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Education: clinical

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Universidad de Caldas , Universidad del Valle

Committee: Universidad de Caldas , Universidad del Valle

Ethics number: protocol ID CBCS-021-14 , protocol IDs 09-014 and O11-015