@article{ae7681ea10c04109b83ac0f2bca4ef1f,
title = "Factors associated with falls among urban-dwellers aged 55 years and over in the Malaysian elders longitudinal research (MELoR) study",
abstract = "Falls are major issues affecting the older population with potentially serious complications, including fractures, head injury, institutionalization, fear of falling and depression. While risk factors for falls have been established across Western Europe and North America, geographical differences in falls risk have not been well researched. We aim to examine the clinical and physical risk factors for falls in a middle-income South East Asian country. Cross-sectional data from the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study involving 1,362 community dwelling individuals aged 55 years and above was utilized. Information on sociodemographic and medical history was obtained by computer-assisted questionnaires completed during home visits and hospital-based detailed health checks. Univariate and multivariate analyses compared non-fallers and fallers in the previous 12 months. Urinary incontinence, hearing impairment, depression, arthritis and cognitive impairment were risk factors for falls in the past 12 months after adjustment for age in our study population. Awareness about the risk factors in a population helps the design of fall prevention strategies that target specific or multiple risk factors.",
keywords = "Asia, falls, incontinence, older population, risk factor",
author = "Deepa Alex and Khor, {Hui M.} and Chin, {Ai V.} and Hairi, {Noran N.} and Cumming, {Robert G.} and Sajaratulnisah Othman and Selina Khoo and Kamaruzzaman, {Shahrul B.} and Tan, {Maw P.}",
note = "Funding Information: We are grateful to representatives from the non-governmental organizations, senior citizens groups and older persons' charities who assisted with our focus group discussion. We would also like to thank all residents and resident groups of the parliamentary constituencies of Petaling Jaya North, Petaling Jaya South, and Lembah Pantai who assisted us with publicity events and recruitment. Special thanks to members of the Damansara Jaya Senior Citizens' Association and SECITA who assisted with improving our questionnaires. Many thanks too to the MELoR research team led by our project manager, Ms. Lim Inn Tee for their efforts in collecting all the data now available to us. Funding. The MELoR study has now evolved into the AGELESS study, which was funded by a Long Term Research Grant from the Malaysian Ministry of Health (LRGS-1-2019-UM?1-1). Authors in this study were also recipients of an Impactful Interdisciplinary Research Grant awarded by the Health and Wellness Cluster, University of Malaya (IIRG024A-2019). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2020 Alex, Khor, Chin, Hairi, Cumming, Othman, Khoo, Kamaruzzaman and Tan. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2020",
month = nov,
day = "16",
doi = "10.3389/fpubh.2020.506238",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
journal = "Frontiers in Public Health",
issn = "2296-2565",
publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",
}
