UNIVERSITY OF RUSE "ANGEL KANCHEV"
UNION OF SCIENTISTS - RUSE

Proceedings 2024
Faculty of Public Health and Health CareBook 8.1 · Health Promotion

FRI-2K.201-1-HP-03

FALLS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE. RISK FACTORS

Language: BGPages: 19-24

Cite this paper

Assoc. Prof. Stefka Mindova, PhD

Department of Public Health University of Ruse, Bulgaria

ORCID: 0000-0002-7863-9416

E-mail: smindova@uni-ruse.bg

Assoc. Prof. Irina Karaganova, PhD

Department of Public Health University of Ruse, Bulgaria

ORCID: 0000-0003-2164-174X

E-mail: ikaraganova@uni-ruse.bg

Abstract

Older people make up a large and growing percentage of the population. As they age, they are increasingly at risk for falls and subsequent injuries. Each year, approximately 30-40% of patients over the age of 65 fall at least once. Falls lead to moderate to severe injuries, fear of falling, loss of independence, and death in one-third of these patients. Falls in the elderly are a major threat to the deterioration of the quality of life, as they limit the ability to self-care and participate in social life. Many factors can affect balance beyond age, such as medications, vision changes, neuropathy, brain injuries, obesity, and poor physical fitness. Numerous studies have attempted to determine risk factors for falls in older adults. This report provides a brief summary and update of the problem of falls in the elderly, summarizing the risk factors that cause it.

Keywords

Older People, Falls in The Elderly, Risk Factors for Falls, Fear of Falling

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