Factors Contributing to Falls Leading to Fracture among Older Adults

Injurious falls, especially those leading to bone fracture are major causes of death and disability among older people. The aim was to identify the factors and conditions associated with falls leading to fracture (FLF) among older adults in a developing country. The data was collected in 2019 and analyzed in 2020. In total, 300 patients and 590 age- and sex-matched controls were selected from two referral hospitals, and the eligible older individuals who were under the same family physicians of the patients respectively. Significant and direct associations observed between the risk of FLF and cardiovascular diseases, hobby during leisure time, current employment, vertigo, history of falling during the past five years and smoking (P < 0.05 for all). On the other hand, sleep quality, BMI, history of work under sunlight, education, vision acuity and duration of night sleep were inversely associated with the risk of FLF (P < 0.05 for all). FLF is highly predictable with several behavioral, environmental, and health-related factors. Making home and work safer places for older adults, conducting routine vision acuity test, adequate and quality sleeping in day and night, and quitting smoking may reduce the risk of falling among older adults. The results also suggested that the history of falls is a strong predictor of FLF.