Abstract
Objectives: To assess the prevalence and determinants of falls among people aged 65 years or more attending primary health care centers in Abha City, 2018.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. It included a representative sample of 402 elderly participants aged above 65 years who attended five selected primary health care (PHC) centers. A self-administered structured questionnaire in simple Arabic language was designed by the researchers and was used for data collection. It included socio-demographic variables, and variables related to falls (e.g. disease history, currently received medications, physical functional capacity assessment and falls history during the past 12 months).
Results: Participants' age ranged between 66 and 130 years (Mean +/- SD=75.9 +/- 10.3 years). History of falling was reported among 58.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that never worked elderly persons were less likely to have falls compared to retired persons (adjusted odds ratio "AOR"=0.61, p=0.032). Patients with cardiac disease were at significant risk (AOR=2.19, p=0.021). Those with vertigo were at almost double risk to have a fall (AOR=2.40, p<0.001). Elderly persons with sensory visual problems were at a significant risk for fall (AOR=1.61, p=0.043). Those who needed a supporting aid to walk were at almost 3-folds risk to have falls (AOR=3.25; p<0.001).
Conclusions: Falls constitute a common health problem affecting more than half of elderly people attending PHC centers in Abha City, despite the fact that they can be easily prevented.