Analysis of the health profiles and prevalence of falls for patients over 65 years of age in a thermal environment

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2020-09, Vol.32 (9), p.1713-1721
• Main Authors: Bernard, P. L., Raffort, N., Aliaga, B., Gamon, L., Faucanie, M., Picot, M. C., Maurelli, O., Soriteau, L., Ninot, G., Bousquet, J., Blain, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Aged; Falls; Fear; Female; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Geriatry and gerontology; Human health and pathology; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Prevalence
• ISSN: 1720-8319; 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/s40520-019-01381-6

Background A falls prevention programme has been initiated in balneotherapy at Balaruc-les-Bains. Aims To determine the health profiles of subjects who are at risk of falls, over 65 years of age and attending balneotherapy. Methods Questionnaires were used to evaluate people on their fear of falling. Fatigue was assessed by visual analog scale as well as by functional status over the past 12 months. EQ-5D-3L, the IPAQ questionnaire and Fried’s frailty scale were all used. Patients’ functional capabilities were tested using the Unipedal stance test, the TUG test, the SPPB, the Tandem walking test and the isometric manual grip strength test. Results Out of the 1471 patients (72.45 years ± 5.10), the women (67%) were tested. In the last 12 months, 485 of these 1471 patients fell (33%) and 37% of them suffered a severe injury. 45–50% of these subjects are now in good health. Women had a significantly higher impaired perception of their health than men (0.02