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Case Reports
. 2011 Jul;57(7):771-6.

Falls in the elderly: spectrum and prevention

Tareef Al-Aama  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Falls in the elderly: spectrum and prevention

Tareef Al-Aama. Can Fam Physician. 2011 Jul.

Erratum in

  • Can Fam Physician. 2014 Mar;60(3):225

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To provide family physicians with a practical, evidence-based approach to fall prevention in the elderly.

Sources of information: MEDLINE was searched using terms relevant to falls among the elderly in the community and in institutions. Relevant English-language papers published from 1980 to July 2010 were reviewed. Relevant geriatric society guidelines were reviewed as well.

Main message: Falls are a common and serious health problem with devastating consequences. Several risk factors have been identified in the literature. Falls can be prevented through several evidence-based interventions, which can be either single or multicomponent interventions. Identifying at-risk patients is the most important part of management, as applying preventive measures in this vulnerable population can have a profound effect on public health.

Conclusion: Family physicians have a pivotal role in screening older patients for risk of falls, and applying preventive strategies for patients at risk.

Objectif: Proposer au médecin de famille une démarche pratique, fondée sur des données probantes, pour prévenir les chutes chez les personnes âgées.

Sources de l’information: On a consulté MEDLINE à l’aide des termes en rapport avec les chutes chez les vieillards qui vivent dans la communauté ou en institution. Les articles pertinents en anglais publiés entre 1980 et juillet 2010 ont été révisés, de même que les directives des sociétés de gériatrie.

Principal message: Les chutes sont un problème de santé fréquent et sérieux dont les conséquences sont dévastatrices. Plusieurs facteurs de risque ont déjà été identifiés dans la littérature. Les chutes peuvent être prévenues grâce à diverses interventions reposant sur des preuves qui peuvent être simples ou plus complexes. La partie la plus importante du traitement consiste à identifier les patients à risque, puisque l’application de mesures préventives à cette population vulnérable peut avoir des effets considérables sur le plan de la santé publique.

Conclusion: Le médecin de famille a un rôle primordial à jouer pour dépister les patients âgés à risque de chutes et pour appliquer des mesures préventives.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Suggested approach to falls screening, evaluation, and prevention
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Tinetti ME, Kumar C. The patient who falls: “It’s always a trade-off.”. JAMA. 2010;303(3):258–66. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF. Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med. 1988;319(26):1701–7. - PubMed
    1. Canadian Institute for Health Information . National Trauma Registry 2003 report. Hospital injury admissions (included 2000/2001 data) Ottawa, ON: Canadian Institute for Health Information; 2003. Available from: http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/products/NTR_HospitalInjury_2003.pdf. Accessed 2011 May 13.
    1. Czerwinski E, Białoszewski D, Borowy P, Kumorek A, Białoszewski A. Epidemiology, clinical significance, costs and fall prevention in elderly people. Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2008;10(5):419–28. - PubMed
    1. Takakusaki K, Tomita N, Yano M. Substrates for normal gait and pathophysiology of gait disturbances with respect to the basal ganglia dysfunction. J Neurol. 2008;255(Suppl 4):19–29. - PubMed

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