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RESEARCH PAPER
Evaluation of risk of fractures and its connection with predictors of falls among people of over 60 years of age
1
Faculty of Physical Education and Security Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, Nowy Sącz, Poland
2
Department of Public Health, Academy of Medical Sciences of Applied and Holistic Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
3
Faculty of Health Sciences, Angelus Silesius Academy of Applied Sciences in Wałbrzych, Poland
4
Faculty of Health and Physical Culture Sciences, Witelon Collegium, State University, Legnica, Poland
5
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Silesian University, Katowice, Poland
6
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Warsaw Medical Academy of Applied Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
7
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
Corresponding author
Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, ul. Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, ul. Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
KEYWORDS
elderly peoplerisk of fracturefallingFrax calculatorIADL scaleInstrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Global aging is a vital issue of public health from the medical, social and economic points of view. Together with the aging of the population, there is also a higher risk of low mineral density (BMD) especially among people over the age of sixty which indirectly leads to significantly more fractures. The aim of the study is to evaluate the connection between selected factors connected to health, and predict the risk of fractures, obtained by means of an FRAX calculator.
Material and methods:
The study was conducted on a group of 540 people aged between 60 – 74 (early old age), 75 – 89, and 75 – 89 (late old age) living at home. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to evaluate functional fitness and the risk of falls. A scale of complex everyday activities as per Lawton (IADL). Moreover, to assess the risk of fracture, a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was used.
Results:
Ten-year-long absolute risk of fractures as per the FRAX calculator was: on a low level – 41.85%, medium level – 36.11% and on a high level – 22.04% of the study participants. A correlation was observed between the FRAX and the number of medications taken only once (p=0.000), fear of falling (p<0.001), body mass indicator (BMI) (p<0.001), ability to perform complex everyday activities (p<0.001), falling (p<0.001) and hospitalization during the last 12 months, 6 medicines taken together, fear of falling, experienced in the last year.
Global aging is a vital issue of public health from the medical, social and economic points of view. Together with the aging of the population, there is also a higher risk of low mineral density (BMD) especially among people over the age of sixty which indirectly leads to significantly more fractures. The aim of the study is to evaluate the connection between selected factors connected to health, and predict the risk of fractures, obtained by means of an FRAX calculator.
Material and methods:
The study was conducted on a group of 540 people aged between 60 – 74 (early old age), 75 – 89, and 75 – 89 (late old age) living at home. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to evaluate functional fitness and the risk of falls. A scale of complex everyday activities as per Lawton (IADL). Moreover, to assess the risk of fracture, a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was used.
Results:
Ten-year-long absolute risk of fractures as per the FRAX calculator was: on a low level – 41.85%, medium level – 36.11% and on a high level – 22.04% of the study participants. A correlation was observed between the FRAX and the number of medications taken only once (p=0.000), fear of falling (p<0.001), body mass indicator (BMI) (p<0.001), ability to perform complex everyday activities (p<0.001), falling (p<0.001) and hospitalization during the last 12 months, 6 medicines taken together, fear of falling, experienced in the last year.
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| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
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