Incidence and risk factors of falls among the elderly in the District of Colombo.

OBJECTIVES To assess the incidence and risk factors of falls among the elderly in the District of Colombo. METHODS Incidence of falls was assessed by a community based descriptive study with prospective follow up. Risk factors for falls were assessed by a nested case control study. Participants above 65 years residing in 40 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Colombo district (n=1200) were assessed for falls and followed up for four months. Those who had falls were selected as cases (n=151), while two controls per case were selected from others. MEASUREMENTS Tests for gait problems, disability, cognitive impairment and vision. RESULTS The incidence rate of falls was 492 per 1000 person years (95% CI 448-536). Risk factors for falls identified in the multivariate analysis were falls in the previous year (OR 4.67), high disability level (OR 2.04) and high house risk level (OR 1.68). CONCLUSIONS The high incidence of falls among the elderly reported in this study and the preventable risk factors identify / indicate the necessity and feasibility of their prevention.