Table 2.
Factors preceding the most serious fall
| Total Cohort | Men | Women | |||||||
|
Young (N = 54) |
Middle (N = 131) |
Old (N = 205) |
Young (N = 23) |
Middle (N = 41) |
Old (N = 106) |
Young (N = 31) |
Middle (N = 90) |
Old (N = 99) |
|
| ACTIVITIES PERFORMING PRIOR TO THE FALL* | |||||||||
| Ambulation | 31.5(17) | 45(58) | 56.5(113) | 13(3) | 42.5(17) | 58.3(60) | 45.2(14) | 46.1(41) | 54.6(53) |
| Transferring | 9.3(5) | 10.9(14) | 9(18) | 8.7(2) | 17.5(7) | 8.7(9) | 9.7(3) | 7.9(7) | 9.3(9) |
| Running | 20.4(11) | 6.2(8) | 5.5(11) | 21.7(5) | 5(2) | 4.9(5) | 19.4(6) | 6.7(6) | 6.2(6) |
| Sports/exercise/dancing/ bicycling | 22.2(12) | 13.2(17) | 6.5(13) | 39.1(9) | 10(4) | 10.7(11) | 9.7(3) | 14.6(13) | 2.1(2) |
| Stairs/curb | 7.4(4) | 11.6(15) | 9(18) | 13(3) | 12.5(5) | 7.8(8) | 3.2(1) | 11.2(10) | 10.3(10) |
| Other1 | 9.3(5) | 13.2(17) | 13.5(27) | 4.3(1) | 12.5(5) | 9.7(10) | 12.9(4) | 13.5(12) | 17.5(17) |
| PERCEIVED CAUSE OF THE FALL ** | |||||||||
| Accident/Environment | 37(20) | 30.2(38) | 15.8(32) | 39.1(9) | 32.5(13) | 16.2(17) | 35.5(11) | 29.1(25) | 15.5(15) |
| Collapse Episode | 5.6(3) | 6.3(8) | 3.5(7) | 13(3) | 10(4) | 4.8(5) | 4.7(4) | 2.1(2) | |
| Dizziness/Vertigo/Weakness | 5.6(3) | 1.6(2) | 2.5(5) | 1(1) | 9.7(3) | 2.3(2) | 4.1(4) | ||
| Balance/Gait Impairment | 38.9(21) | 49.2(62) | 61.9(125) | 39.1(9) | 47.5(19) | 62.9(66) | 38.7(12) | 50(43) | 60.8(59) |
| Other/Uncertain2 | 13(7) | 12.7(16) | 16.3(33) | 8.7(2) | 10(4) | 15.2(16) | 16.1(5) | 14(12) | 17.5(17) |
| ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS LEADING TO THE FALL*** | |||||||||
| Wet surface/slippery footwear | 9.3(4) | 17(16) | 9.5(14) | 11.1(2) | 13.8(4) | 7.6(6) | 8(2) | 18.5(12) | 11.6(8) |
| Uneven surface/steps | 20.9(9) | 25.5(24) | 27(40) | 16.7(3) | 24.1(7) | 32.9(26) | 24(6) | 26.2(17) | 20.3(14) |
| Objects on surface/rug | 9.3(4) | 7.4(7) | 16.2(24) | 5.6(1) | 6.9(2) | 15.2(12) | 12(3) | 7.7(5) | 17.4(12) |
| External forces | 7(3) | 4.3(4) | 2(3) | 5.6(1) | 6.9(2) | 2.5(2) | 8(2) | 3.1(2) | 1.4(1) |
| Icy surface | 20.9(9) | 12.8(12) | 14.2(21) | 22.2(4) | 24.1(7) | 13.9(11) | 20(5) | 7.7(5) | 14.5(10) |
| Other3 | 32.6(14) | 33(31) | 31.1(46) | 38.9(7) | 24.1(7) | 27.8(22) | 28(7) | 36.9(24) | 34.8(24) |
Values are percentages (frequency)
*Activities Performing Prior to The Fall (Total Cohort: χ2 = 31.01; p < 0.001; Men:χ2 = 31.51; p < 0.001; Women: χ2 = 17.44; p > 0.05).
**Perceived Cause (Total Cohort:χ2 = 29.03; p < .001; Men: χ2 = 15.61; p < 0.05; Women: χ2 = 15.54; p < 0.05).
***Environmental Factors (Total Cohort:χ2 = 11.52; p > 0.05; Men: χ2 = 8.04; p > 0.05; Women: χ2 = 10.34; p > 0.05).
1Other represents responses of "reaching overhead", "bending down", "uncertain", or "other"
2Other/Uncertain represents responses of "other" or "uncertain" as to the cause of the fall.
3Other represents responses of "new eyeglasses" and/or "darkness/dimness of environment" and/or "glare from lights"