Prevalence and factors associated with falls in older adults in a Middle Eastern population: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective The main objective was to determine the prevalence of falls and associated factors in older adults living in Qatar.

Study design Cross-sectional study.

Methods This is a cross-sectional study of older adults aged ≥60 years with at least one encounter with primary health care corporation (PHCC) in Qatar during the period 2017–2022. Data on documented falls, demographic variables, and medical comorbidities were extracted from all PHCCs in Qatar. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to address the aim of the study.

Results A total of 68,194 older adults had at least one encounter with PHCC. The median age was 65.0 years, 58.9% were males, and 32.6% were Qatari nationality. A higher percentage of falls was found in individuals with hypertension (80%), diabetes (74.2%), and dyslipidemia (48.9%), which were also the most prevalent comorbidities. The prevalence of falls was 6.7% (95% CI 6.6–6.9). Compared to individuals aged 60–69 years, individuals aged 70–79, 80–89, and 90–99 had increased odds of falls by 1.6 (95% CI 1.5, 1.8), 2.5 (95% CI 2.2, 2.8), and 2.6 (95% CI 2.0, 3.3), respectively. Females and individuals of Qatari nationality had increased odds of fall by 1.5 (95% CI 1.4, 1.6) and 1.2 (95% CI 1.1, 1.3), respectively. Orthostatic hypotension, syncope, Parkinson's disease, and hip arthritis showed the strongest associations with falls.

Conclusions Given the growing population of older adults in the Middle East and North African region, falls is a public health concern. The risk factors identified in this study suggest the need for proactive healthcare strategies tailored to the unique needs of older adult populations.