Falls, Cognitive Function, and Balance Profiles of Singapore Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals : Key Risk Factors

Abstract

Objective: This study compared occurrence of falls, cognitive function, and balance profiles across participants in elderly age categories, investigating associations between the 3 aspects in a sample of Singapore’s elderly population. Method: Communitydwelling elderly individuals (N ¼ 385) were randomly recruited and grouped into “young-old (65-74 years),” “medium-old (75-84 years),” and “oldest-old (above 85 years)” groups. The Fallproof Health and Activity questionnaire, adapted Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) tests were used to survey information related to falls, cognition, and balance profiles. Results: Findings revealed significant differences in MMSE and BBS scores across the age groups. Participants with mild cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] ¼ 1.08-3.25) and BBS score 40 (OR ¼ 0.25, 95% CI ¼ 0.14-0.46) were at the highest risk of falling. Conclusion: Community-dwelling elderly individuals with subtle cognitive impairment and BBS scores 40 displayed an increased risk of falling.