Prevalence of falls and associated risk-factors among Georgian older adults.

backgroundFalls are one of the leading causes of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults worldwide, with over 680,000 fatalities annually. In Georgia, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional-injury related mortality and account for more than half of injury-related hospitalizations. In 2018, a total of 25,103 patients were hospitalized due to injuries in Georgia, and more than half of these cases were fall-related. The mechanisms and risk factors associated with falls are complex. In our study we aimed to identify the key risk factors for falls among community-dwelling Georgian adults aged 65 and older.

methodsThis cross-sectional study included community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, who visited primary care services in Tbilisi, Georgia, between September 1, 2022, and February 14, 2023. The study employed a two-stage sampling approach. Initially, primary care (PC) services were randomly selected. Subsequently, within the selected PC services, eligible patients were recruited using a convenience sampling method. A structured questionnaire was administered by trained operators. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS v23. Pearson Chi-Square tests were used to assess associations between categorical variables, and binary logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

resultsThe study included 1000 participants (Female = 500). Over one-third had fallen at least once in the past 12 months. Females were more likely to report falls (p = 0.01). Participants with neurological diseases had a higher likelihood of falls requiring medical care (OR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.03–1.90). Those with depression, arthritis, imbalance, and muscle weakness were 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.6 times more likely to report a fall. Participants whose homes were crowded with furniture and had carpets were 1.52 (95% CI 1.05–2.34) and 1.43 (95% CI 1.06–1.94) times more likely to fall.

conclusionOur study found that the frequency of falls among older adults of Tbilisi, Georgia aligns with global estimates. Our findings show that being a woman, having medical comorbidities, and exposure to hazardous home environments are associated with a higher risk of experiencing falls, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of the fall risk-factors. Interventions should be targeted on different dimensions that tackle older adults’ frailty and environmental risk factors in their homes.