Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Falls is one of major issues concerning the elderly globally. An event of fall can lead to mortality, morbidity, higher rates of nursing home placement, expensive medical treatment, and loss of confidence leading to voluntary restrictions for activities. METHODS: Data from National Health and Morbidity Survey 2018, a nation-wide, cross-sectional using two-stage stratified sampling design was analysed. Data collection was done by face-to-face interview using validated questionnaire on falls. RESULTS: A total of 14.1% (95%CI: 12.47, 15.83) of elderly reported at least one fall in the last year. Females showed a higher prevalence of ever falling compared to males, 14.7% (95%CI: 12.73, 16.99) and 13.4% (95%CI: 11.52, 15.46) respectively. Among those who fall, more than one fourth (27.5%) reported had fall twice or more. More than half (63.5%) sustained injury and 16% were hospitalised after the fall. Highest percentage of fall among the elderly happened outdoors (43.9%) followed by indoors, outside the house and in the bathrooms (33.9%, 15.1% and 7.1% respectively). DISCUSSION: Falls in the elderly should be considered common with potentially serious consequences. Family members and caretakers have to be aware and educated about the importance of recognising risk factors of falls among elderly and the importance of safety at home.
Links
BibTeX (Download)
@proceedings{APCPH-2019-238,
title = {Prevalence and Characteristics of Falls Among Malaysian Elderly},
author = {Norzawati Yoep and BAppSc and Nur Azna Mahmud and Nik Adilah Shahein and Faizah Paiwai and Muslimah Yusof and Nor Asiah Muhamad},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Falls is one of major issues concerning the elderly globally. An event of fall can lead to mortality, morbidity, higher rates of nursing home placement, expensive medical treatment, and loss of confidence leading to voluntary restrictions for activities. METHODS: Data from National Health and Morbidity Survey 2018, a nation-wide, cross-sectional using two-stage stratified sampling design was analysed. Data collection was done by face-to-face interview using validated questionnaire on falls. RESULTS: A total of 14.1% (95%CI: 12.47, 15.83) of elderly reported at least one fall in the last year. Females showed a higher prevalence of ever falling compared to males, 14.7% (95%CI: 12.73, 16.99) and 13.4% (95%CI: 11.52, 15.46) respectively. Among those who fall, more than one fourth (27.5%) reported had fall twice or more. More than half (63.5%) sustained injury and 16% were hospitalised after the fall. Highest percentage of fall among the elderly happened outdoors (43.9%) followed by indoors, outside the house and in the bathrooms (33.9%, 15.1% and 7.1% respectively). DISCUSSION: Falls in the elderly should be considered common with potentially serious consequences. Family members and caretakers have to be aware and educated about the importance of recognising risk factors of falls among elderly and the importance of safety at home.},
note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia},
keywords = {Elderly, falls, NHMS 2018},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}