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Falls among the elderly: epidemiology and prevention
1Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University School of Public Health, New York, New York.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Elderly falls are a significant concern. Addressing reduced sensation, psychoactive medication risks, and environmental hazards can help prevent falls and improve senior safety.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Falls among the elderly lead to severe psychological and physical harm.
- Fall rates increase with age and are higher in women, though death rates are higher in men.
- Significant progress has been made in reducing fall-related deaths in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the epidemiology of falls in the elderly.
- To identify and analyze remediable causes of falls.
- To explore potential interventions for fall prevention in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological review of fall data in elderly populations.
- Analysis of contributing factors including neurosensation, medication, and environment.
- Literature synthesis on interventions and their effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Reduced peripheral neurosensation is a key factor, potentially improved by physical activity.
- Psychoactive medications, particularly benzodiazepines, are linked to increased fall and fracture risk.
- Environmental modifications like handrails and hazard removal are effective prevention strategies.
Conclusions:
- Interventions targeting neurosensory deficits, cautious use of psychoactive drugs, and environmental modifications are crucial for fall prevention.
- Further research is needed in community-dwelling elderly populations to validate these findings.
- Multifaceted approaches are necessary to reduce the incidence and impact of falls in older adults.