Falls And Osteoporotic Fractures

Question 1

What is the epidemiology of falls?

Answer 1

Majority of falls occur in older adults within their homes, hospital settings or care homes.

Question 2

What are the risk factors for falls?

Answer 2

Frailty due to sarcopenia or osteoporosis

Home environment such as clutter, stairs and inappropriate footwear

Previous fall increases fear

Gait disturbance

Sensory impairment

Poly pharmacy

Alcohol use

Question 3

Which interventions are effective for preventing falls?

Answer 3

Mutlfactorial assessment of their physical capabilities, social environment at home, medication use and any sensory impairment

Physical activity and exercise programmes to increase confidence

Education about falls and how to prevent them

Question 4

What are the approaches to health promotion for fall/fracture prevention?

Answer 4

Risk assessment tools for osteoporosis such as FRAX or QRAX

Educations for patients and carers about falls

Encouraging physical activity

Question 5

What are the consequences of falls?

Answer 5

Head injuries

Fracture

Pneumonia

Acute Kidney Injury

Disability and increased dependence on carers

Psychological problems with ear of alling

Question 6

What are the difficulties in researching designs for falls?

Answer 6

Difficult to blind intervention

Under-reporting of falls, especially in men that leads to reporting bias

Varying definitions of falls

Inclusion criteria can mean elderly people are under or overrepresented

Small sample size

Attrition bias due to death

Question 7

What is a common fracture in the elderly?

Answer 7

Fracture of the head and neck of femur

Question 8

What are the risk factors for hip fractures?

Answer 8

Older age

Female

Smoking

Corticosteroids use and poly pharmacy

Low body weight