Comparison of fall risk in rural and urban community-dwelling Indian elderly

Background. To compare the intrinsic risk factors (health, balance, and mobility) and the prevalence, circumstances, and consequences of fall in urban and rural Indian elderly. Method. A total of 148 older adults, 74 each in a rural and an urban area participated in a cross-sectional study from Augu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asian journal of gerontology and geriatrics 2016-12, Vol.11 (2), p.54-59
Main Authors: Kumari, Y, Dsouza, S A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accident prevention
Aging
Balance
Diabetes
Falls
Health risks
Hypertension
Infectious diseases
Lifestyles
Medical records
Mobility
Older people
Pain
Population
Prevention
Risk factors
Rural areas
Urban areas
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Summary:Background. To compare the intrinsic risk factors (health, balance, and mobility) and the prevalence, circumstances, and consequences of fall in urban and rural Indian elderly. Method. A total of 148 older adults, 74 each in a rural and an urban area participated in a cross-sectional study from August 2012 to June 2013. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information related to fall history in the previous year, health status, and socioeconomic and environmental details. The intrinsic risk factors were assessed using the Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques-4 (FICSIT-4) for static balance, Four Square Step Test for dynamic balance, Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration for Balance (mCTSIB), Timed Up and Go Test for functional mobility, 30-second Chair Stand Test, and the Balance Confidence Scale. Results. The number of elderly reporting falls in the previous year was similar in urban (n=9) and rural (n=8) groups. Nonetheless, urban elderly reported more serious fall-related injuries, more medical consultations/hospitalisations, and more restriction in activity. The two groups differed in the type of health problems, number of medications taken, and socioeconomic and environmental characteristics that contribute to fall risk. Rural elderly had better performance on all tests of balance and mobility, particularly for FICSIT-4 (p
ISSN:1819-1576
1819-1576