A Study of Fall Risk Assessment in Elderly Patients Based on Diabetes and its Significance

JOURNAL TITLE: Bengal Physician Journal

Author
1. Tanuka Mandal
2. Purbasha Biswas
3. Sanjit Mal
ISSN
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10070-7029
Volume
7
Issue
2
Publishing Year
2020
Pages
5
Author Affiliations
    1. Department of Medicine, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    2. RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    1. Department of Medicine, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    1. Department of Medicine, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    2. R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    3. RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Article keywords
    Diabetes, Elderly, Falls, Insulin, Oral hypoglycemic agents

    Abstract

    Background: With a rise in the elderly population worldwide, falls have been seen to cause a substantial increase in mortality and morbidity in this age group. Multiple factors have been held responsible for resulting in falls, which can be broadly classified as intrinsic causes and extrinsic causes. Diabetes along with hypertension has been considered to be one of the major intrinsic causes leading to increase in incidence of fall. Materials and methods: The objective of the study was to find out estimation of fall risk among diabetic elderly with history of fall in last 6 months and evaluation of its recurrence over the next 1 year. This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at Outpatient Department of General Medicine Department of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, from July 2017 to September 2018. Data were collected from 116 elderly patients. Results: Our study demonstrated that patients on insulin along with oral hypoglycemics (OHA) had increased number of falls through the next year. Diabetes was also found to be significantly associated with intrinsic fall. Number of falls through next year was significantly associated with taking patients insulin. Conclusion: This study reveals that diabetes along with use of antidiabetics in elderly population increased risk of fall in this population. With the elderly population increasing in West Bengal, larger studies will help to explain the increased incidence of fall in all diabetic elderly population further.

    © 2019 Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.   |   All Rights Reserved