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Risk Factors for Falling among Community-Dwelling Veterans and Their Caregivers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Mark Speechley ,
Shannon Belfry ,
Michael J. Borrie ,
Krista Bray Jenkyn ,
Richard Crilly ,
Dawn P. Gill ,
Sarena McLean ,
Paul Stolee ,
Anthony A. Vandervoort  and
Gareth R. Jones
Mark Speechley*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London
Shannon Belfry
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London
Michael J. Borrie
Affiliation:
Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario Southwestern Ontario Regional Geriatric Program, London Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London
Krista Bray Jenkyn
Affiliation:
Graduate Program in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario
Richard Crilly
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London
Dawn P. Gill
Affiliation:
Graduate Program in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario
Sarena McLean
Affiliation:
Graduate Program in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario
Paul Stolee
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London Southwestern Ontario Regional Geriatric Program, London Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London
Anthony A. Vandervoort
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London
Gareth R. Jones
Affiliation:
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : Mark Speechley, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, K201 Kresge Building, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1. (speechly@uwo.ca)
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Abstract

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and strength of association of risk factors for falling in Canadian veterans of World War II and Korea and their caregivers.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to addresses of 3,000 Canadian veterans (response rate = 70%). Risk factors for falls and the frequency of falls and injurious falls in the past 12 months were collected.

Results: Veterans had more risk factors than did caregivers, and more had fallen in the past year (39.8% vs. 29.7%). Risk factors in the logistic model for veterans included lower extremity disability (odds ratio = 1.98, 95% confidence interval 1.5–2.6); lower extremity weakness (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.3–2.3); worse memory than peers (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.1–2.5); one or more visits to the family doctor in the past month (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.2–2.0); and worse memory than 5 years ago (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.0–1.8).

Conclusions: Veterans appear more frail and prone to falling than their caregivers.

Résumé

But: Évaluer la prévalence et la corrélation entre les facteurs de risque de chute pour les anciens combattants canadiens de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale et de la guerre de Corée, et leurs fournisseurs de soins.

Méthode: Des questionnaires ont été envoyés à 3 000 lieux de résidence d'anciens combattants canadiens (taux de réponse=70 p. 100). Des données ont été recueillies sur les facteurs de risque de chute ainsi que sur la fréquence des chutes et des chutes ayant causé des blessures au cours des douze derniers mois.

Résultats: Les anciens combattants avaient davantage de facteurs de risque que leurs fournisseurs de soins, et davantage d'entre eux étaient tombés au cours de la dernière année (39,8 p. 100 par rapport à 29,7 p. 100). Parmi les facteurs de risque du modèle de régression logistique des anciens combattants, on comptait une infirmité aux membres inférieurs (rapport de cotes=1,98; intervalle de confiance à 95 % : 1,5–2,6), une faiblesse aux membres inférieurs (RC 1,75; IC à 95 % : 1,3–2,3), une mémoire inférieure à celle de ses pairs (RC 1,67; IC à 95 % : 1,1–2,5), un rendez-vous ou plus avec un médecin de famille au cours du dernier mois (RC 1,53; IC à 95 % : 1,2–2,0) et une mémoire inférieure à ce qu'elle était il y a cinq ans (RC 1,36; IC à 95 % : 1,0–1,8).

Conclusions: Les anciens combattants semblent plus fragiles et plus enclins à faire des chutes que leurs fournisseurs de soins.

Keywords

accidental fallspreventionrisk factor modificationinjuriesveteransagingchutes accidentellespréventionchangement des facteurs de risquesblessuresanciens combattants
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 2005 , pp. 261 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2005

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