A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia
Background: Falls among older adults in institutional care are a significant concern due to their serious consequences and are further complicated by staffing constraints. Identification of key risk factors is essential for targeted prevention and closer monitoring. Objective: To identify the fall r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Belitung Raya Publisher - Belitung Raya Foundation
2025
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/1/120556.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848868202321281024 |
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| author | Zohari, Zahira Rahim, Azliza Mat Din, Hazwan Saibul, Nurfaizah Jafri, Asiah Rahim, Shafikah Nasir, Faizah Mohammad Sallehuddin, Hakimah |
| author_facet | Zohari, Zahira Rahim, Azliza Mat Din, Hazwan Saibul, Nurfaizah Jafri, Asiah Rahim, Shafikah Nasir, Faizah Mohammad Sallehuddin, Hakimah |
| author_sort | Zohari, Zahira |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Falls among older adults in institutional care are a significant concern due to their serious consequences and are further complicated by staffing constraints. Identification of key risk factors is essential for targeted prevention and closer monitoring. Objective: To identify the fall risk factors among older adults in institutional care and evaluate their relationships with overall fall risk. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 184 residents of a public institutional care home in Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected from January 2023 to October 2023 through fall risk assessments and medical records. A history of falls over the past 12 months was documented. Fall risk was assessed using the Downton Fall Risk Index (DFRI). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and the prevalence of falls. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with higher fall risk scores. Results: The study included 184 participants (60.3% male), with the majority aged 70–79 years (45.4%). Common comorbidities were hypertension (50.5%) and diabetes mellitus (28.8%), with sensory impairments such as visual (50.0%) and hearing (32.1%) deficits. Polypharmacy was reported in 23% of participants, and almost a quarter had a history of falls. A high fall risk was observed in 39.7% of cases. Ordinal logistic regression revealed significant predictors of higher fall risk: hypertension (OR 5.93, 95% CI 2.18–16.14), polypharmacy (OR 5.53, 95% CI 2.11–14.47), visual impairment (OR 16.28, 95% CI 3.38–78.41), hearing impairment (OR 17.64, 95% CI 3.50–88.85), cognitive impairment (OR 33.12, 95% CI 4.61– 237.88), psychiatric illness (OR 4.76, 95% CI 1.23–18.44), and female sex (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.19–5.74). Conclusion: Regular fall risk assessments and tailored intervention plans that address these factors are crucial for reducing falls and improving the quality of life for this vulnerable population. These findings provide practical guidance for healthcare professionals, including nursing staff, in institutional care to prioritize high-risk residents and implement early preventive strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:48:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-120556 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:48:38Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Belitung Raya Publisher - Belitung Raya Foundation |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1205562025-10-06T02:58:02Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/ A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia Zohari, Zahira Rahim, Azliza Mat Din, Hazwan Saibul, Nurfaizah Jafri, Asiah Rahim, Shafikah Nasir, Faizah Mohammad Sallehuddin, Hakimah Background: Falls among older adults in institutional care are a significant concern due to their serious consequences and are further complicated by staffing constraints. Identification of key risk factors is essential for targeted prevention and closer monitoring. Objective: To identify the fall risk factors among older adults in institutional care and evaluate their relationships with overall fall risk. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 184 residents of a public institutional care home in Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected from January 2023 to October 2023 through fall risk assessments and medical records. A history of falls over the past 12 months was documented. Fall risk was assessed using the Downton Fall Risk Index (DFRI). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and the prevalence of falls. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with higher fall risk scores. Results: The study included 184 participants (60.3% male), with the majority aged 70–79 years (45.4%). Common comorbidities were hypertension (50.5%) and diabetes mellitus (28.8%), with sensory impairments such as visual (50.0%) and hearing (32.1%) deficits. Polypharmacy was reported in 23% of participants, and almost a quarter had a history of falls. A high fall risk was observed in 39.7% of cases. Ordinal logistic regression revealed significant predictors of higher fall risk: hypertension (OR 5.93, 95% CI 2.18–16.14), polypharmacy (OR 5.53, 95% CI 2.11–14.47), visual impairment (OR 16.28, 95% CI 3.38–78.41), hearing impairment (OR 17.64, 95% CI 3.50–88.85), cognitive impairment (OR 33.12, 95% CI 4.61– 237.88), psychiatric illness (OR 4.76, 95% CI 1.23–18.44), and female sex (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.19–5.74). Conclusion: Regular fall risk assessments and tailored intervention plans that address these factors are crucial for reducing falls and improving the quality of life for this vulnerable population. These findings provide practical guidance for healthcare professionals, including nursing staff, in institutional care to prioritize high-risk residents and implement early preventive strategies. Belitung Raya Publisher - Belitung Raya Foundation 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/1/120556.pdf Zohari, Zahira and Rahim, Azliza and Mat Din, Hazwan and Saibul, Nurfaizah and Jafri, Asiah and Rahim, Shafikah and Nasir, Faizah and Mohammad Sallehuddin, Hakimah (2025) A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia. Belitung Nursing Journal, 11 (4). pp. 487-495. ISSN 2477-4073 https://www.belitungraya.org/BRP/index.php/bnj/article/view/3899 10.33546/bnj.3899 |
| spellingShingle | Zohari, Zahira Rahim, Azliza Mat Din, Hazwan Saibul, Nurfaizah Jafri, Asiah Rahim, Shafikah Nasir, Faizah Mohammad Sallehuddin, Hakimah A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia |
| title | A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia |
| title_full | A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia |
| title_short | A cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in Malaysia |
| title_sort | cross-sectional analysis of fall risk among institutionalized older adults in malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120556/1/120556.pdf |