Prevalence, Circumstances, And Risk Factors Of Falls Among Community Dwelling Members Of University Of The Third Age | INSTITUT PENYELIDIKAN PENUAAN MALAYSIA (MyAgeingâ„¢)
» ARTIKEL » Prevalence, Circumstances, and Risk Factors of Falls Among Community Dwelling Members of University of the Third Age

Prevalence, Circumstances, and Risk Factors of Falls Among Community Dwelling Members of University of the Third Age

Falls are common events among older people and have become known as one of the “geriatric giants” (13). Due to their increasing falls prevalence with increasing age (4) and the unprecedented rate of aging populations worldwide (57), falls have become one of the most common and serious health problems in older adults (811). A recent review of epidemiological studies of fall across countries, indicated that the range of fall in the community setting older person is between 20 and 33%. These falls resulted in serious injuries in 10–20% of cases, and 2–6% resulted in a fracture or other serious injuries requiring hospitalization.

Although there are many studies of falls risk factors and falls prevention interventions, the majority of these have been undertaken in Western countries (112). There have been a small number of studies that have reported falls incidence in Asian nations such as Taiwan (813), Japan (1415), Korea (1618), Hong Kong (13), Singapore (1920), and Thailand (21). These small number of studies have reported varying rates of falls, between 10 and 33%, for the proportion of older people falling in Asian countries in a 12 month period (7). Differences in age, racial background, socio-demography, environment and population settings, life-style (diet, activity, sunlight exposure), body dimensions, and culture between countries might all contribute to the differences of fall prevalence, circumstances and consequences of falls across different regions of the world (2224). Additionally, differences in sampling, recruitment and methods of data ascertainment (retrospective vs. prospective falls data), and possibly cultural differences in willingness to report specific health problems such as falls, may account for some of these differences. In addition, research is needed to identify prevention strategies that will be effective in different cultural contexts (325).

The older population in Malaysia is growing rapidly. In 2007, they were 1,195,480 people aged 65 years and above which represented 4.41% of the total population (Department of Statistic, 2018). It was projected that by the year 2019, older persons population aged 65 and above would reach 7% and would double to 14% in 2043 and Malaysia will become and aged nation by year 2030 whereby the older population comprises 15% of the total population. This demographic change seen older people forming a more significant part in the Malaysian society. This situation creates the need for preventive action to minimize the impact of the problems associated with aging, such as falls. Therefore, the magnitude of the problem of falls and associated contributory factors needs to be defined in the Malaysian context, and management strategies should be designed within the context of local needs and the Malaysian primary and public health care systems. The aims of this study were to identify the prevalence of falls in community dwelling older Malaysians, and associated risk factors and circumstances.

Full Article

Tarikh Input: 15/11/2022 | Kemaskini: 15/11/2022 | lizamdnor

PERKONGSIAN MEDIA

INSTITUT PENYELIDIKAN PENUAAN MALAYSIA (MyAgeingâ„¢)
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
0397692750/ 2755
0397692738/ 2744
SXDdAA2~