THE PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF FEAR OF FALLING IN THE OLDEST-OLD OUTPATIENTS

Abstract

Add full-textShareMoreAbstractBackground / Aim: Fear of falling (FOF) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of FOF and factors associated with FOF in the oldest-old outpatients. Materials and Method: Between January 2018 and De- cember 2019, 170 patients aged 85 and over applied to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital were included in the study. We asked participants and/or their relatives whether they had fallen and/or had FOF in the last year. Also, the demographics, the number of chron- ic diseases and drugs, frailty, functional, nutritional, and cognitive status, probable sarcopenia, urinary and fecal incontinence were evaluated. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables, Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze non-parametric variables, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine associ- ates of FOF. Results: The prevalence of FOF was 58.7%, and falls, 41.7%. The mean age of the patients was 88.1±2.9 (min 85, max 99), and 76 were female (62.8%). Prevalence of FOF in SARC-F screening test positive participants was 61.3%; in probable sarcopenic participants (27/16 kg), 47.1%; in those with malnutrition/malnutrition risk, 42.3%; in those with prefrail/frail, 83.8%; in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test positive participants, 38.2%; in those with urinary and fecal incontinence, 64.8% and 9.9%, respectively; in fallers, 51.4%; and in females, 67.6%. Between groups with and without FOF, significant differences were found for falls, prefrailty/frailty, positive SARC-F screening test, urinary incontinence, probable sarcopenia, the number of diseases, malnutrition/malnutri- tion risk, and activities of daily living (ADL) & instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scores (p=0.010, <0.001, 0.005, <0.001, 0.033, 0.010, 0.035, and <0.001 & 0.007). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted by falls, prefrailty/frailty, ADL & IADL scores, malnutrition/ malnutrition risk, and the number of chronic diseases, low- er ADL scores and higher number of diseases were signifi- cantly associated with higher FOF risk (OR=0.2, 95% CI= 0.1-0.5, p=0.001; OR=1.4, 95% CI= 1.0-1.8, p=0.028, respectively). Conclusion: ADL limitations and the presence of multi- ple diseases were independently associated with FOF. The detection of risk factors of FOF may be useful in develop- ing preventive strategies and treatment modalities. Further researches are needed for a better understanding of the FOF and its associates.