Factors affecting the risk of falling and fall-related injuries in older people in Turkey

Background Falls and related injuries in older ages are becoming a major public health problem. Objective This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the risk of falls and self-reported fall-related injuries among older adults in Turkey. Material and methods In this large population-based cross-sectional study, data from 2721 persons aged over 65 years were collected using simple random sampling. Anthropometric indices, demographic characteristics, medical history and fall status were collected. Results The rate of falling (35.3% vs. 20.1%) and fear of falls (53.6% vs. 29.3%) were higher in women than men. Female gender, fear of falling, chronic disease and a lower education level were found to increase the risk of both falling and fall-related injuries. Age, obesity and appendicular muscle mass did not significantly affect the risk of falling or injuries (p > 0.05). Conclusion Sex, education level, fear of falling and the presence of chronic diseases are associated with the risk of falling and fall injuries in the older Turkish population. Health professionals should assess older people for these risk factors and provide specific advice and care to prevent falls.