Risk factors for falls in the elderly

Abstract

Falls can have significant impact on older adults including fractures and decreased quality of life. Individuals who are 65 years and older have a 30 % chance of falling per year, and this increases up to 37 % in those 80 years or older. In the community-dwelling older adult, various risk factors can contribute to falling. This chapter reviews the literature on risk factors for falling. This chapter focuses on high-quality systematic reviews including adults aged 60 years and older. Reviews were assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and rated as high quality if they scored 7 or more out of 11. Thirteen systematic reviews were included. When assessing an older adult for falls, risk factors that encompasses extrinsic and intrinsic factors should be considered.