Background: Falls in older people can have serious consequences for their well-being and life expectancy. However, the information available remains insufficient in our context. Objective: The overall aim is to contribute to a better understanding of falls in the elderly. Material and Method: This is a retrospective, descriptive study of the records of patients aged 65 and over who consulted a geriatric unit in C？te d’Ivoire. It focused on patients who had reported at least one fall in the 12 months preceding their consultation, regardless of where the fall occurred. Results: Prevalence was 14%, with an average age of 75.4 years and a sex ratio of 0.5. Balance and walking disorders were the main pathological cause of falls (50%). Most patients (87%) lived in the city and were faced with inadequate lighting (37%) and inappropriate footwear (95.4%). The main drug treatments followed were antihypertensive drugs (25%), followed by anticoagulants (13.9%). Falls occurred while walking (35.2%) and standing (23.1%), and were repeated in 49.1%. The traumatic consequences were mainly limb pain (27.8%) and arthralgia (22.2%) were the most common and also, 65.7% could not recover without assistance. Depression was found in 9.3% of patients. The trend was marked by a mortality rate of 5.5% of cases. Conclusion: Falls are frequent, caused by problems with balance and walking, and by environmental factors. They can have serious traumatic consequences and major psychological repercussions.
References
[1]
Ka, O. (2019) The Determinants of Fall in the Elderly at the Geriatric Center of Ouakam (Senegal). World Journal of Public Health, 4, 24-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20190401.14
[2]
World Health Organization (2007) Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age. https://www.who.int
[3]
Bloch, F., Thibaud, M., Dugué, B., Brèque, C., Rigaud, A. and Kemoun, G. (2010) Episodes of Falling among Elderly People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Social and Demographic Pre-Disposing Characteristics. Clinics, 65, 895-903. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1807-59322010000900013
[4]
Bergland, A. (2012) Fall Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly People. Norsk Epidemiologi, 22, 151-164. https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v22i2.1561
[5]
Ilunga-Ilunga, F., Muasapatoka, G.K., Nkashama, J.M., Kandolo, F.T., Muya, J.P.M. and Kabulo, P.K. (2022) Falls in the Elderly: Prevalence and Explanatory Factors in Kinshasa: Democratic Republic of Congo. International Journal of Paediatrics and Geriatrics, 5, 70-75. https://doi.org/10.33545/26643685.2022.v5.i1b.169
[6]
Siqueira, F.V., Facchini, L.A., Silveira, D.S.D., Piccini, R.X., Tomasi, E., Thumé, E., et al. (2011) Prevalence of Falls in Elderly in Brazil: A Countrywide Analysis. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 27, 1819-1826. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2011000900015
[7]
Addai-Dansoh, S., Nutakor, J.A., Larnyo, E., Arboh, F., Boahemaa, P.Y. and Osei-Kwakye, J. (2022) Prevalence of Falls among Older Adults in Africa: A Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 9, 262-269. https://doi.org/10.32628/ijsrst229537
[8]
Hars, M. and Trombetti, A. (2013) Evaluation de la marche, de l’équilibre et du muscle chez le sujet âgé. Revue Médicale Suisse, 9, 1265-1271. https://doi.org/10.53738/revmed.2013.9.390.1265
[9]
MacDermid, J.C., Wessel, J., Humphrey, R., Ross, D. and Roth, J.H. (2007) Validity of Self-Report Measures of Pain and Disability for Persons Who Have Undergone Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the Carpometacarpal Joint of the Hand. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 15, 524-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2006.10.018
[10]
Kanis, J.A., McCloskey, E.V., Johansson, H., Oden, A. and Leslie, W.D. (2010) Development and Use of the FRAX® Algorithm for the Assessment of Fracture Risk. Osteoporosis International, 21, 479-493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1501-9
[11]
Adanusa, M., Pobee, S.K., Zaabaar, E., Mawuko, V., Asiedu, K., Amuzu, S.K., et al. (2022) Prevalence and Risk Factors for Falls among Older Adults in a Primary Care Facility in Ghana. Malawi Medical Journal, 34, 225-230. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i4.1
[12]
Bekibele, C.O. and Gureje, O. (2009) Fall Incidence in a Population of Elderly Persons in Nigeria. Gerontology, 56, 278-283. https://doi.org/10.1159/000236327
[13]
Bâ, M., Sall, A., Tienin, B.P., Djajheté, R., Diouf, S.N., Bâ, D., et al. (2023) Assessment of Falls among the Elderly in the Emergency Department of the Idrissa Pouye General Hospital in Dakar, Senegal: A Cohort of 100 Cases. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11, 12-26. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2023.1112002
[14]
National Safety Council (2023) Older Adult Fall. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/older-adult-falls/
[15]
Kamel, M.H., Abdulmajeed, A.A. and Ismail, S.E. (2013) Risk Factors of Falls among Elderly Living in Urban Suez—Egypt. Pan African Medical Journal, 2, Article 26. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.14.26.1609
[16]
Chen, S., Jin, X., Li, F., Zhang, Q. and Zhang, B. (2022) The Incidence and Risk Factors of Falls in Elderly People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 878719.
[17]
Yeung, S.S.Y., Reijnierse, E.M., Pham, V.K., Trappenburg, M.C., Lim, W.K., Meskers, C.G.M., et al. (2019) Sarcopenia and Its Association with Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 10, 485-500. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12411
[18]
Stolt, M., Routasalo, P., Suhonen, R. and Leino-Kilpi, H. (2020) Falls among Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29, 206-217.
[19]
Tinetti, M.E., Speechley, M. and Ginter, S.F. (1988) Risk Factors for Falls among Elderly Persons Living in the Community. New England Journal of Medicine, 319, 1701-1707. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198812293192604
[20]
Stevens, J.A. and Sogolow, E.D. (2005) Gender Differences for Non-Fatal Unintentional Fall Related Injuries among Older Adults. Injury Prevention, 11, 115-119. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.2004.005835
[21]
Demeocq, T. (2012) Chute du sujet âgé: prévalence et parcours de soins en médecine générale: Une étude transversale déclarative multicentrique. Master’s Thesis, Joseph Fourier University.
[22]
Xu, Q., Ou, X. and Li, J. (2022) The Risk of Falls among the Aging Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 902599. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.902599
[23]
Allan, L.M., Ballard, C.G., Rowan, E.N. and Kenny, R.A. (2009) Incidence and Prediction of Falls in Dementia: A Prospective Study in Older People. PLOS ONE, 4, e5521. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005521
[24]
Kechaou, I., Cherif, E., Sana, B.S., Boukhris, I. and Hassine, L.B. (2019) Complications traumatiques et psychosociales des chutes chez le sujet âgé tunisien. Pan African Medical Journal, 32, Article 92. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2019.32.92.16667
[25]
Auvinet, B., Berrut, G., Touzard, C., Moutel, L., Collet, N. and Chaleil, D. (2002) Falls in the Elderly: The Need for Teamwork through a Network. Revue Médicale de l’AssuranceMaladie, 33, 183-191.
[26]
Hamed, A.F., Mohammed, N.A. and Aly, H. (2017) Elderly Falls Prevalence and Associated Factors in Sohag Governorate. The Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine, 35, 1-13.
[27]
Woolcott, J.C. (2009) Meta-Analysis of the Impact of 9 Medication Classes on Falls in Elderly Persons. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169, 1952-1960. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.357
[28]
Loew, F., Loew et, F. and Maupetit, C. (2005) Prévenir les chutes et les fractures aujourd’hui. Revue Médicale Suisse, 1, 781-784. https://doi.org/10.53738/revmed.2005.1.11.0781
[29]
Dhalwani, N.N., Fahami, R., Sathanapally, H., Seidu, S., Davies, M.J. and Khunti, K. (2017) Association between Polypharmacy and Falls in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study from England. BMJ Open, 7, e016358. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016358
[30]
Nkodo Mekongo, Y. P., De Breucker, S., Delvaux, N., and Pepersack, T. (2007). La peur de chuter et le “syndrome post-chute” de la personne âgée. Revue médicale de Bruxelles, 28, 27-31.
[31]
Scheffer, A.C., Schuurmans, M.J., van Dijk, N., van der Hooft, T. and de Rooij, S.E. (2008) Fear of Falling: Measurement Strategy, Prevalence, Risk Factors and Consequences among Older Persons. Age and Ageing, 37, 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afm169
[32]
Shao, L., Shi, Y., Xie, X., Wang, Z., Wang, Z. and Zhang, J. (2023) Incidence and Risk Factors of Falls among Older People in Nursing Homes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 24, 1708-1717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2023.06.002
[33]
Münzer, T. and Gnädinger, M. (2014) Evaluation du risque de chute et prévention des chutes au cabinet du médecin de famille. Forum Médical Suisse—Swiss Medical Forum, 14, 857-861. https://doi.org/10.4414/fms.2014.02109
[34]
Obi, P., Nwankwo, H., Emofe, D., Adandom, I. and Kalu, M. (2019) The Experience and Perception of Physiotherapists in Nigeria Re: Fall Prevention in Recurrent-Faller Older Adults. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 17, Article 11. https://doi.org/10.46743/1540-580x/2019.1798
