PREDICTORS FOR RECURRENT FALLS AMONG THE HOME-DWELLING ELDERLY

Objective - Scant attention has been paid to the risk factors for recu rrent falls among the home-dwelling elderly, although there are remark able age and sex differences according to whether or not the falls rec ur. In this report we describe and analyse the risk factors for recurr ent falls by selected clinical variables and the history of falling du ring the previous year. Design - A community-based prospective study c overing two years. Setting - All home-dwelling persons (N=1016) aged 7 0 years or older living in five municipalities in northern Finland. Ou tcome measures - The risk factors of recurrent falling by selected cli nical variables using cross-tabulations and multivariate analyses. Res ults - Previous falls, peripheral neuropathy, use of psychotropic medi cation and slow walking speed mere independent risk factors for recurr ent falling. The risk of recurrent falling increased with an increasin g number of previous falls. Conclusions - Early preventive measures sh ould be taken among the elderly persons who are prone to falling. In o rder to reduce the risk of recurrent falls among the elderly, the atte nding physician should take a critical view of the use of psychotropic medications, and attempts should be made to treat conditions underlyi ng peripheral neuropathies and abnormal gait.