Risk factors related to falling in the elderly referred to health service centers, Kerman City, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Background: One of the most common problems in the elderly is falling which can lead to adverse consequences. The aim of current study was to compare the risk factors associated with falling in the elderly in Kerman City, Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 elderly referred to Kerman City comprehensive health services centers in 2018. The participants were selected using multi-stage sampling method, and divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a history falling in the past six months. The individual or environmental risk factors associated with falling were evaluated using the Fall Risk Screening Tool during an interview, and compared. The data were analyzed by SPSS software using Chi-square and Logistic regression. Findings: The mean age of the elderly was 67.04 ± 6.9 years, and 56.8 were women. The history of falling during the past six months was reported in 110 elderly (27.5), and 314 (78.5) had multiple risk factors for falling. Taking more than four drugs, using inappropriate shoes, and having underlying illness were the most common related risk factors. Conclusion: The current study revealed that most elderly had several risk factors for falling that need to be considered in health assessment by healthcare providers. © 2020 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved