FALLS IN THE ELDERLY Krishan Patel, Malvika Sawant, Rohan Pai, Rishi Bappanad, The GTF Group INTRODUCTION SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS THE CHALLENGE REFERENCES INCIDENCE OF FALLS IN THE ELDERLY ABSTRACT ■ NCOA supports awareness and educational efforts about falls and promotes evidence-based fall prevention programs and strategies across the nation. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING (NCOA) SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS CONTRIBUTING TO HIGHER RISK OF FALLS ■ Women, due to reduced bone mass and the onset of osteoporosis, are more likely than men to be injured in falls ■ Hormone-related changes associated with menopause are some additional reasons. ■ Men are not at the same risk level because the testosterone increases bone density. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ■ The authors would like to thank Dr. Atul Laddu, Dr. Asmita Joshi, and our parents for supporting us. ■ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0401/p2159.html ■ https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for- reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/ ■ https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls- prevention/ ■ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC4707663/ GENDER DIFFERENCE ■ Falls in the elderly can be serious and sometimes fatal. After a fall, one can experience very high medical costs, poor quality of life, and other complications. In many cases, falls can be prevented. Falls should be adequately managed by members of the medical profession and physical therapists. ■ Falls in the elderly are a serious problem, and can be life-threatening. ■ The authors researched various aspects of the fall, such as incidence, causes, risk of falls, and the management of falls. REFERENCES ■ Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors' safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs. ■ Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. ■ Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths. Figure 1: Increase in the death rates due to falls Figure 2: Bone Mass vs. Age Figure 3: Muscle Mass vs. Age ■ Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Factors involved in the falls in the elderly include hypertension, diabetes, polypharmacy, dementia, weak muscle tone, and deteriorating eyesight and hearing. Falls threaten seniors' safety, independence, and generate enormous economic and personal costs due to increased diagnostic tests and hospitalization. The estimated annual cost for the US healthcare system on the falls among the elderly is $67 billion. In many cases, falls in the elderly can be prevented by conducting simple exercises on a daily basis. We conclude that as the population is aging, falls in the elderly should be taken very seriously. ■ The U.S. CDC reports that falls, with or without injury, carry a heavy impact on the quality of life. ■ A growing number of older adults fear falling and, as a result, limit their activities and social engagements. ■ This can result in physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness. ■ The death rates due to falls in the past 10 years show a trend to increase (Figure 1). NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING (NCOA) Figure 4: Yearly Incidence of Osteoporotic Fractures PREDISPOSING CAUSES FOR FALLS IN THE ELDERLY Figure 5: Polypharmacy/Elderly ■ Drugs affecting the CNS (antidepressants, hypnotics and opioids). ■ Antithrombotic agents (antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs used to prevent blood clots) ■ Drugs used to treat peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ■ Diuretics ■ NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements, drugs to treat constipation, calcium supplements, analgesics and antipyretics, thyroxine. ■ Anticholinergic and sedatives have almost double the risk of causing a fall.
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FALLS IN THE ELDERLYKrishan Patel, Malvika Sawant, Rohan Pai, Rishi Bappanad, The GTF Group
INTRODUCTION
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
References
THE CHALLENGE
REFERENCES
INCIDENCE OF FALLS IN THEELDERLY
ABSTRACT
■ NCOA supports awareness and educationalefforts about falls and promotes evidence-basedfall prevention programs and strategies acrossthe nation.
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING(NCOA)
SPECIFIC MEDICATIONSCONTRIBUTING TO HIGHER RISK
OF FALLS
■ Women, due to reduced bone mass and theonset of osteoporosis, are more likely than mento be injured in falls
■ Hormone-related changes associated withmenopause are some additional reasons.
■ Men are not at the same risk level because thetestosterone increases bone density.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
■ The authors would like to thank Dr. Atul Laddu,Dr. Asmita Joshi, and our parents forsupporting us.
■ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0401/p2159.html■ https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-
reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/■ https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-
prevention/■ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC4707663/
GENDER DIFFERENCE
■ Falls in the elderly can be serious and sometimesfatal. After a fall, one can experience very highmedical costs, poor quality of life, and othercomplications. In many cases, falls can beprevented. Falls should be adequately managedby members of the medical profession andphysical therapists.
■ Falls in the elderly are a serious problem, and canbe life-threatening.
■ The authors researched various aspects of thefall, such as incidence, causes, risk of falls, andthe management of falls.
REFERENCES
■ Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatalinjuries for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors'safety and independence and generate enormouseconomic and personal costs.
■ Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in theemergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, anolder adult dies from a fall.
■ Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treatedin emergency departments annually, includingover 800,000 hospitalizations and more than27,000 deaths.
Figure 1: Increase in the death rates due to falls
Figure 2: Bone Mass vs. Age
Figure 3: Muscle Mass vs. Age
■ Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in theemergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, anolder adult dies from a fall. Factors involved in thefalls in the elderly include hypertension, diabetes,polypharmacy, dementia, weak muscle tone, anddeteriorating eyesight and hearing. Falls threatenseniors' safety, independence, and generateenormous economic and personal costs due toincreased diagnostic tests and hospitalization. Theestimated annual cost for the US healthcaresystem on the falls among the elderly is $67billion. In many cases, falls in the elderly can beprevented by conducting simple exercises on adaily basis. We conclude that as the population isaging, falls in the elderly should be taken veryseriously.
■ The U.S. CDC reports that falls, with or withoutinjury, carry a heavy impact on the quality of life.
■ A growing number of older adults fear falling and,as a result, limit their activities and socialengagements.
■ This can result in physical decline, depression,social isolation, and feelings of helplessness.
■ The death rates due to falls in the past 10 yearsshow a trend to increase (Figure 1).
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING(NCOA)
Figure 4: Yearly Incidence of Osteoporotic Fractures
PREDISPOSING CAUSES FORFALLS IN THE ELDERLY
Figure 5: Polypharmacy/Elderly
■ Drugs affecting the CNS (antidepressants,hypnotics and opioids).
■ Antithrombotic agents (antiplatelet andanticoagulant drugs used to prevent blood clots)
■ Drugs used to treat peptic ulcers andgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
■ Diuretics ■ NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs),
Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements, drugs totreat constipation, calcium supplements,analgesics and antipyretics, thyroxine.
■ Anticholinergic and sedatives have almost doublethe risk of causing a fall.
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