preventing falls in your communityRisk Factors
Falls are often the result of multiple factors related to the older adult and his or her environment. Studies have shown that the risk of falling increases dramatically as the number of risk factors increases. Tinetti, Speechley, and Ginter, respected researchers in the area of falls prevention, found that the percentage of persons falling increased from 19% for those with one risk factor to 78% for those with four or more risk factors
In a review of 16 studies, the most common risk factors for falls were identified. Muscle weakness was found to be significantly related to fall events and a history of prior fall was consistently associated with risk of recurrent falls (Rubenstein, 2002).
| Risk factor | Mean Relative Risk Ratio or Odds Ratio of Predicting Falls (the higher the number, the more likely a fall) |
|---|---|
| Muscle weakness | 4.4 |
| Prior falls | 3.0 |
| Balance deficit | 2.9 |
| Gait deficit | 2.9 |
| Use of assistive device | 2.6 |
| Visual deficit | 2.5 |
| Arthritis | 2.4 |
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) deficit |
2.3 |
| Depression | 2.2 |
| Cognitive deficit | 1.8 |
| Age >80 years | 1.7 |