Evaluation of risk of fractures and its connection with predictors of falls among people of over 60 years of age.

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Global aging is a vital issue of public health from the medical, social and economic points of view. Together with the aging of the population, there is also a higher risk of low mineral density (BMD) especially among people over the age of sixty which indirectly leads to significantly more fractures. The aim of the study is to evaluate the connection between selected factors connected to health, and predict the risk of fractures, obtained by means of an FRAX calculator.

Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 540 people aged between 60 - 74 (early old age), 75 - 89, and 75 - 89 (late old age) living at home. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to evaluate functional fitness and the risk of falls. A scale of complex everyday activities as per Lawton (IADL). Moreover, to assess the risk of fracture, a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was used.

Results: Ten-year-long absolute risk of fractures as per the FRAX calculator was: on a low level - 41.85%, medium level - 36.11% and on a high level - 22.04% of the study participants. A correlation was observed between the FRAX and the number of medications taken only once (p=0.000), fear of falling (p<0.001), body mass indicator (BMI) (p<0.001), ability to perform complex everyday activities (p<0.001), falling (p<0.001) and hospitalization during the last 12 months, 6 medicines taken together, fear of falling, experienced in the last year.