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Incidence of and risk factors for falls among adults with an intellectual disability

C R Cox1, L Clemson, R J Stancliffe

  • 1Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|November 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Falls are common and injurious for adults with intellectual disability (ID). Seizures, prior fractures, and older age are key risk factors for falls in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Disability Studies
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Falls in adults with intellectual disability (ID) occur earlier than in the general population, leading to significant injuries and hospitalizations.
  • Limited research exists on fall risk factors, especially for individuals not in formal care.
  • This study investigated fall incidence and risk factors in people with ID across diverse living situations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of falls among adults with intellectual disability (ID).
  • To identify risk factors associated with falls in people with ID.
  • To compare fall rates in formal versus non-formal care settings.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective medical chart audit of 114 adult patients with developmental disabilities over 15 months.
  • Fall data collected via carer recall of falls in the preceding 12 months.
  • Risk factors extracted from medical records and questionnaires; analyzed using univariate and logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • 34% of participants reported at least one fall in the past year, with similar rates in formal and non-formal care.
  • 84% of fallers sustained injuries.
  • Multivariate analysis identified seizures (past 5 years), history of fracture, and increasing age as significant fall risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Falls represent a major health issue for adults with ID, causing significant injuries.
  • Fall risk appears consistent across formal and non-formal living arrangements.
  • Further research is required for developing targeted screening tools and interventions for fall prevention in this population.
Abstract

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