The elderly and falls: Factors associated with quality of life A cross-sectional study using large-scale national data in Korea

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the factors of fall injury and measuring the relationship between health-related quality of life in the elderly.

Methods: We analyzed the data on 38,627 persons of aged 65 years or older who have experienced falls drawn from the Korean Community Health Survey 2011. Binomial logistic regression analysis was performed with crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: It was found that sex (OR: 1.187), types of household (OR: 1.134), employment status (OR: 0.941), stress (OR: 1.260), comorbidities (OR: 1.308), and health-related quality of life were significantly related to falls among the elderly. Specifically, elderly women, greater stress, comorbidities, and poor health-related quality of life were strongly related to higher odds of falls.

Conclusion: Health-related quality of life was significantly related with the risk of fall injuries in elderly households. Providing support for informal caregivers (e.g., friends or neighbors), not only family members could expect to positive effect.

Keywords: Elderly; Falls; Health-related quality of life (HRQOL).