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Falls, cognitive function, and balance profiles of Singapore communitydwelling elderly Individuals: Key risk factors
Citation
Woo, M. T., Davids, K., Liukkonen, J., Chow, J. Y., & Jaakkola, T. (2017). Falls, cognitive function, and balance profiles of Singapore community-dwelling elderly Individuals: Key risk factors. Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation, 8(4), 256-262. http://doi.org/10.1177/2151458517745989
Abstract
Objective: This study compared occurrence of falls, cognitive function, and balance profiles across participants in elderly age categories, investigating associations between the 3 aspects in a sample of Singapore’s elderly population. Method: Community dwelling elderly individuals (N=385) were randomly recruited and grouped into “young-old (65-74 years),” “medium-old (75-84 years),” and “oldest-old (above 85 years)” groups. The Fallproof Health and Activity questionnaire, adapted Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) tests were used to survey information related to falls, cognition, and balance profiles. Results: Findings revealed significant differences in MMSE and BBS scores across the age groups. Participants with mild
cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-3.25) and BBS score ≤ 40 (OR = 0.25, 95% CI=0.14-0.46) were at the highest risk of falling. Conclusion: Community-dwelling elderly individuals with subtle cognitive impairment and BBS scores ≤ 40 displayed an increased risk of falling.
Date Issued
2017