Table 2 Identification of references and percentage of incidence of the causes and risk factors for falls
From: Physical consequences of falls in the elderly: a literature review from 1995 to 2010
| N (%)a | References | |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioural | ||
| Medication (overdose) | 32.1 | [3, 5, 7–9, 13, 17, 19, 21, 22, 84, 33, 39, 40, 48, 53, 55–57, 60, 61, 63, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 86] |
| Fear of falling (after the first fall) | 29.8 | [1, 13, 18, 20, 25, 32, 33, 37–39, 41, 47, 52, 53, 56, 62, 63, 67, 68, 70, 76–78, 81, 86] |
| Fear of falling (without ever having fallen) | 22.9 | [6, 13, 18, 20, 25, 32, 33, 38, 39, 41, 52, 53, 62, 63, 67, 76, 77, 79, 81, 85] |
| Reduction of physical activity | 16.0 | [6, 19, 20, 23, 84, 39–41, 55, 63, 71, 75, 77, 86] |
| Activities of daily living | 11.4 | [13, 20, 21, 25, 29, 36, 39, 63, 81, 86] |
| Alcohol consumption | 10.3 | [2, 13, 19, 84, 40, 53, 55, 63, 70] |
| Slip/slide | 6.8 | [23, 33, 40, 45, 46, 64] |
| Direction of fall (sideways) | 4.5 | [14, 24, 25, 49] |
| Fainting | 4.5 | [13, 33, 55, 57] |
| Inappropriate footwear | 3.4 | [17, 84, 48] |
| Smoking | 3.4 | [40, 55, 63] |
| Direction of fall (forward) | 2.2 | [14, 23] |
| Difficulties in dressing | 1.1 | [55] |
| Level/angle/position of the impact | 1.1 | [40] |
| Biological | ||
| Lack of balance while walking | 33.3 | [2, 5–7, 9, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 31, 33, 39, 40, 45, 48, 53, 55, 62, 63, 66–70, 81, 86] |
| Musculoskeletal and sensory degradation | 26.4 | [3, 5–7, 13, 14, 17, 22, 23, 84, 40, 45, 53, 55, 61–64, 66, 69, 71, 78, 81] |
| Functional dependence on mobility | 25.2 | [7, 9, 12, 19–21, 23–26, 35, 39, 40, 50, 53, 55, 56, 62, 67, 71, 77, 78] |
| Cognitive impairment | 24.1 | [6, 7, 9, 13, 17, 19–23, 84, 45, 55, 59, 63, 64, 69, 70, 75, 77, 81] |
| Age | 19.5 | [5, 10, 12, 84, 34, 36, 40, 49, 55, 56, 63, 66, 70, 71, 78, 86] |
| Sex (higher incidence in females) | 18.3 | [3, 5, 13, 84, 35, 40, 43, 48, 49, 56, 63, 67, 70, 78, 80, 86] |
| Decreased bone density | 14.9 | [5, 14, 24, 25, 84, 34, 40, 43, 49, 56, 62, 63, 71] |
| Lack of vision | 14.9 | [7, 13, 17, 22, 40, 48, 53, 55, 56, 63, 77, 86, 87] |
| Chronic disease | 13.7 | [9, 13, 22, 84, 33, 40, 48, 55, 63, 69, 70, 86] |
| Depression | 12.6 | [2, 13, 17, 26, 33, 55, 63, 67, 70, 77, 81] |
| Dizziness/vertigo | 11.4 | [7, 13, 17, 22, 40, 48, 53, 55, 56, 63, 77, 86, 87] |
| Decrease in body mass index | 10.3 | [5, 7, 10, 25, 29, 40, 49, 55, 71] |
| Pains | 4.5 | [3, 6, 35, 56] |
| Changes in soft tissues | 4.5 | [14, 40, 57, 64] |
| Urinary incontinence | 3.4 | [33, 56, 61] |
| Postural hypotension | 3.4 | [17, 56, 61] |
| Weight (body mass that falls) | 3.4 | [25, 40, 63] |
| Hearing problems | 3.4 | [13, 55, 63] |
| Environmental | ||
| Unsafe home environments | 17.2 | [5, 7, 15, 17, 22, 25, 84, 33, 48, 55, 63, 65, 66, 71, 86] |
| Unsafe outdoors | 16.0 | [5, 7, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 84, 33, 48, 55, 66, 71, 86] |
| Height of fall | 2.2 | [14, 25] |
| Collision with objects | 2.2 | [23, 55] |
| Mobility aids | 2.2 | [40, 63] |
| Falls hospital beds | 1.1 | [27] |
| Socio-economic | ||
| Level of education and income | 2.2 | [84, 78] |
| Access to social services and health | 2.2 | [84, 78] |
| Lack of social interaction | 1.1 | [84] |