COMPARISON OF RISK OF FALL IN ACTIVE VS SEDENTARY MALE INDIVIDUALS ABOVE THE AGE OF SIXTY YEARS

Abstract

Background: Fall is considered a significant issue among the elderly and a leading cause of increased mortality. Lifestyle is somehow thought to interfere with the risk of falls.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the risk of falls between physically active and sedentary male individuals above the age of sixty.

Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 92 male participants above the age of 60 years, and the non-probability convenience sampling technique was used. The data were collected from different nursing homes in Lahore, including Great homes, Senior Citizen Foundation of Pakistan, Old age happy home, and Darul Kafala. The study was completed within six months. Assessment of fall risk was calculated through the Berg balance scale.

Results: The mean age of all the subjects was 69.5±3.0 years. Of the 92 participants, 37 (40%) were living an active lifestyle, and 55 (60%) were living a sedentary lifestyle. Both the groups fall into the category of low fall risk (100%) according to the berg balance score. The results showed that both groups have almost equal chances of falls but mean rank values presented that individuals with an active lifestyle (50.78) had a relatively lower risk of falls than individuals with a sedentary lifestyle (p = 1.00).

Conclusion: Lifestyle is not a good predictor of fall risk. Individuals living active v/s sedentary lifestyles are both at low risk and have almost equal chances of falling. However, leading an active lifestyle can lower the chances of falls in male elderly individuals.