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KMID : 0858820070240040023
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Journal of Korean Society for Health Education and Promotion
2007 Volume.24 No. 4 p.23 ~ p.39
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Risk Factors for Falls in the Elderly Population in Korea: An Analysis of the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data
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Kim Jong-Min
Lee Myung-Sun
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Abstract
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Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify the risk factors for falls among the Korean elderly population.
Methods: We analyzed the data on 167 persons of 65 years of age or older who have experienced falls drawn from the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We conducted a cross-tabulation analysis and logistic regression analysis of the impact of the socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behavior, mobility, and morbidity upon the frequencies of falls.
Results: Among the socio-demographic characteristics, gender(p<0.001), marital status(p<0.1), and the type of medical insurance(<0.1) were found to be statistically significant, Among the constraints on mobility, the severity of walking problems, (p<0.001) and depression(p<0.05) proved to be significant, As for variables related to health-related behavior, the level of routine physical activities (p<0.001) was found significant, Finally, rheumatism(p<0.1), osteoporosis(p<0.05), diabetes(p<0.1), urinary incontinence(p<0.01) were also significant. A logistic regression analysis of the incidence of falls revealed that urinary incontinence was the most important risk factor with an odds ratio of 2.7.
Conclusions: Although a variety of factors affect the frequencies of falls in the elderly population, urinary incontinence proved to be the single most important risk factor. This finding implies that education for fall prevention is crucial for those with urinary incontinence.
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KEYWORD
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Falls, Risk factor, Elderly, Urinary incontinence
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