Epidemiological Study On The Risk Factors And Interventions Of Falls In Elderly

Objective To observe the distribution and characters of risk factors associatedwith falls, and investigate the prevalence of falls in the veteran elderly.Methods In a cross-sectional study, subjects were randomly selected from theelderly veteran above60years old in Beijing. The standardized questionnaire andassessments were designed to collected information on the demographiccharacteristics, lifestyle, physical examination, disease history, falls history,activities of daily living, mobility, balance, muscular strength, and frailty status inthe elderly. Epidata3.0and SPSS17.0were used for data management andanalysis.Results1.572subjects aged60-96years old were investigated;2. The prevalenceof falls in this population was30.94%, and increased from12.59%aged60-69years old to60.34%aged above90years old.3. The analysis of single factor: thedifference of the falls subjects and the non-falls subjects were age, comorbidities,mobility, gait disability and frailty status; and the age, IADL disability; gaitdisability, frailty status, arrhythmia, hypertension, postural hypotension,respiration disorders and syncope were significant in the multiple logisticanalysis.Conclusion1. The prevalence of falls in the elderly veteran population was30.94%and increased with aging.2. The age, IADL disability; gait disability,frailty status, arrhythmia, hypertension, postural hypotension, respirationdisorders and syncope were risk factors of falls, while the ADL, balance, kneeextensor strength were protective factors of falls in veteran elderly. Objective To study the effects of whole-body vibration training (WBV), balancetraining at home (BTH), health education of falls (HEF) on the falls andfalls-related mobility function, balance and general health status in veteranelderly.Methods120older subjects with fall history were randomly assigned to theWBV+HEF group, BTH+HEF group, HEF group and control group. Theintervention period was12weeks. The TUGT, FTSST, lower extremities musclestrength, balance function, balance confidence, ADL, IADL, general health statusand frailty status were assessed at the beginning and after12weeks of theintervention. SPSS17.0was used for data management and analysis.Results WBV+HEF reduced the time of TUGT and FTSST, improved thebilateral knees extensor strength, balance, ADL, IADL and general healthstatus(p<0.05); BTH+HEF improved the balance ability, balance confidence andgeneral health status(p<0.05); HEF improved the general health status(p<0.05);and No effects were observed in control group(p>0.05).Conclusions WBV, BTH, and HEF are safe and effective in improving thefalls-related mobility function and the general health status in elderly.