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PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF FALLS IN THE ELDERLY WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS AT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, HO CHI MINH CITY
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Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, frequency, mechanism, activities at the time of falls, and injuries sustained from falls in elderly patients with Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) at University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study that involved 636 elderly patients (≥60 years) from January 2022 to June 2022 at the Rheumatology clinic and the Geriatrics clinic of University Medical Center HCMC. We included 318 patients with KOA and 318 patients without KOA. Demographic data, co-morbidities, current medications, and characteristics of falls in the past 12 months were collected from both groups. Results: The prevalence of falls and recurrent falls was significantly higher in elderly patients with KOA than in the control group (23.3% vs. 16.7%, p=0.037 and 14.2% vs. 3.5%, p<0.001, respectively). Elderly patients with KOA were more likely to fall due to loss of balance compared to the group without KOA (47.3% vs. 18.9%, p<0.001). The risk of fracture due to falls was also higher in patients with KOA (25.7% vs. 13.2%, p=0.016). There was no significant difference in age, multi-morbidity status, and activities at the time of falls in patients with and without KOA. Conclusion: This study highlights that elderly patients with KOA have a higher prevalence of falls, particularly due to loss of balance, and are at an increased risk of fractures due to falls. These findings suggest the need for falls prevention strategies in this population, with a focus on reducing the risk of falls and fractures in patients with KOA.
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Keywords
falling, knee osteoarthritis, elderly.
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