SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN LONG-TERM CARE

• Published in: Innovation in aging Vol. 1; no. suppl_1; pp. 431 - 432
• Main Authors: Yang, Y., van Schooten, K.S., Sims-Gould, J., McKay, H.A., Feldman, F., Robinovitch, S.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.1549

Introduction: Falls are a major health concern for both older men and women. However, few studies have examined sex differences in the circumstances of falls. We analyzed real-life falls captured on video to compare scenarios leading to falls between men and women in two long-term care (LTC) facilities.
Methods: Between 2008 and 2016, we video-captured 1738 falls experienced by 231 men and 298 women (mean age=83 ± 9 years). We focused our analysis on the biomechanical causes of imbalance and the activities at time of falling, and compared these to sex and health status.
Results: Men were more likely than women to fall from loss of support with an external object (odds ratio 1.37; 95% CI 1.08–1.73) and less likely to fall from tripping (0.72; 0.54–0.96). Men were more likely to fall while seated (1.42; 1.07–1.87) or while rising from sitting (1.49; 1.11–1.99), and less likely to fall while walking (0.61; 0.50–0.75). Falls in men were more likely to involve wheelchairs (1.50; 1.16–1.93), and less likely to involve walkers (0.57; 0.43–0.76). Falls from loss of support were more common among individuals who were less independent in performing activities of daily living (ADL), who used multiple medications, and who used mobility aids. Individuals with independent ADL and intact cognition were more likely to fall while walking, but less likely to fall while seated or while rising.
Conclusion: Our results elucidate differences between older men and women in the scenarios that lead to falls, to inform strategies to prevent falls in the LTC setting.