Risk factors for falls in the Chinese elderly population

Besides being the major cause of hip fracture, falls also have important consequences in injuries and mortality, especially in the elderly population. This study investigated the occurrence of and the correlates of falls in a cohort of Hong Kong Chinese elderly aged 70 years and above.

The research was based on the baseline cross-sectional study of an age- and sex-stratified cohort consisting of 1,947 ambulatory subjects. The occurrence of falls was based on the previous 12 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the effect of each independent variable, adjusting for age and sex. Multivariate logistic regression analysis based on the backward elimination procedure was used for the final model.

Previous white-collar employment, poor self-perceived health, dizziness, slow gait velocity, difficulties in activities of daily living, non-practice of "morning walk," body mass index in the range of 20-24, use of local skin preparation, and presence of cerebrovascular disease were independently associated with falls. Smokers were found to have an independent decreased risk of falls. Neither age nor sex was significantly associated with falls after adjusting for the other explanatory variables.

The results from this population-based cross-sectional study form a basis for further prospective study on falls in the Chinese elderly population. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors including circumstances and consequences of falls are important considerations in the strategy for the prevention of falls.