PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND MEDICATIONS AS PREDICTORS OF INJURIOUS FALLS BY ELDERLY PEOPLE - A PROSPECTIVE POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Citation
K. Koski et al., PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND MEDICATIONS AS PREDICTORS OF INJURIOUS FALLS BY ELDERLY PEOPLE - A PROSPECTIVE POPULATION-BASED STUDY, Age and ageing, 25(1), 1996, pp. 29-38
Citations number
45
Categorie Soggetti
Geiatric & Gerontology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00020729
Volume
25
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
29 - 38
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-0729(1996)25:1<29:PFAMAP>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
To determine the physiological factors and medications predicting inju rious falls among the elderly population, the authors conducted a pros pective study in a rural home-dwelling population aged 70 years or ove r, initially 979 persons (377 men and 602 women), from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1992, in Northern Finland. The independent risk factors for all falling injuries, falls leading to minor injuries and ones le ading to major injuries were determined. In men, the independent risk factors for all injuries were gait disturbances [odds ratio (OR) = 3.5 ] and the use of digitalis (OR = 2.2), those for minor injuries were g ait disturbances (OR = 2.7) and the use of calcium blockers (OR = 3.0) , and those for major injuries were the absence of a quadriceps reflex (OR = 4.8), gait disturbances (OR = 2.8) and the use of digitalis (OR = 2.9). In women, the corresponding independent risk factors were sho rt step length (OR = 32.1), the use of calcium blockers (OR = 2.5) and the use of medications for improving peripheral circulation (OR = 3.7 ) for all injurious falls, path deviation (OR = 2.3), the use of calci um blockers (OR = 2.8) and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (OR = 2. 1) for minor injuries, and foot deformity (OR = 2.0), short step lengt h (OR = 15.8), the use of long-acting benzodiazepines (OR = 4.0) and t he use of calcium blockers (OR = 2.4) for major injuries. In order to prevent injurious falls, attention should be given to the prescription of tranquillizers, cardiovascular medications and anti-inflammatory d rugs. The walking abilities of elderly people should be maintained and chronic diseases leading to peripheral neuropathy should be treated a dequately.