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Original ArticleOpen Access
Risk Factors for Falls in the Thai Elderly in an Urban Community
Assantachai P 
,
Praditsuwan R ,
Chatthanawaree W ,
Pisalsarakij D ,
Thamlikitkul V
,
Praditsuwan R ,
Chatthanawaree W ,
Pisalsarakij D ,
Thamlikitkul V RUNGNIRAND PRADITSUWAN, MD**,
DUJPRATANA PISALSARAKIJ, BSc*,
Background
: Instability or falls in the elderly are a health condition meeting all criteria for
prevention i.e. high frequency, evidence of preventability and a high burden of morbidity. The con-
sequences of a fall affect not only the elderly per se such as fractures and various kinds of physical
and mental impairment, but also the family and the society as a whole in terms of the financial expen-
diture involved. The need for a comprehensive study
to
identify the risk factors for falls among the
Thai elderly is, therefore, crucial for further management.
Objective
: To identify the significant risk factors for falls among the Thai elderly for further
prevention and management.
Method
: A cross-sectional study in the urban community around Siriraj Hospital, Bang-
kok. l ,043 community-dwelling people aged
~
60 years were recruited. A structured questionnaire,
including mental test and physical examinations as well as various laboratory tests, were used
to
iden-
tify the risk factors for falls between faller and control groups.
Results
: The overall prevalence of falls among elderly Thais in an urban area was 19.8 per
cent during a period of 6 months. However, the prevalence was 24.1 per cent in women but only 12.1
per cent in men. Older people who were likely to fall also had a lower bone mass which predisposed
them to future fractures. The independent risk factors for falls after multiple logistic regression ana-
lysis were : female gender, hypertension, deafness, poor memory, poor self-perceived health status,
poor performance in the instrumental activities of daily living, kyphoscoliosis, use of spectacles, rapid
pulse rate after a 5 minute rest, higher serum transferrin and poor nutrition in terms of low lean body
mass and reduced serum albumin level.
Conclusions
: Special sense, activity of daily living, nutritional status, kyphoscoliosis, hyper-
tension and cognitive ability were six important factors determining the likelihood of fall among the
elderly in an urban area.
Key word
: Fall, Risk Factors, Urban, Elderly
DUJPRATANA PISALSARAKIJ, BSc*,
Background
: Instability or falls in the elderly are a health condition meeting all criteria for
prevention i.e. high frequency, evidence of preventability and a high burden of morbidity. The con-
sequences of a fall affect not only the elderly per se such as fractures and various kinds of physical
and mental impairment, but also the family and the society as a whole in terms of the financial expen-
diture involved. The need for a comprehensive study
to
identify the risk factors for falls among the
Thai elderly is, therefore, crucial for further management.
Objective
: To identify the significant risk factors for falls among the Thai elderly for further
prevention and management.
Method
: A cross-sectional study in the urban community around Siriraj Hospital, Bang-
kok. l ,043 community-dwelling people aged
~
60 years were recruited. A structured questionnaire,
including mental test and physical examinations as well as various laboratory tests, were used
to
iden-
tify the risk factors for falls between faller and control groups.
Results
: The overall prevalence of falls among elderly Thais in an urban area was 19.8 per
cent during a period of 6 months. However, the prevalence was 24.1 per cent in women but only 12.1
per cent in men. Older people who were likely to fall also had a lower bone mass which predisposed
them to future fractures. The independent risk factors for falls after multiple logistic regression ana-
lysis were : female gender, hypertension, deafness, poor memory, poor self-perceived health status,
poor performance in the instrumental activities of daily living, kyphoscoliosis, use of spectacles, rapid
pulse rate after a 5 minute rest, higher serum transferrin and poor nutrition in terms of low lean body
mass and reduced serum albumin level.
Conclusions
: Special sense, activity of daily living, nutritional status, kyphoscoliosis, hyper-
tension and cognitive ability were six important factors determining the likelihood of fall among the
elderly in an urban area.
Key word
: Fall, Risk Factors, Urban, Elderly
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