Approximately 30% of older adults worldwide suffer from falls each year, making falls a critical public health issue

This study utilized baseline survey data from the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) and the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in Vietnam (LSAHV) to evaluate the prevalence of falls and explore associated factors among older individuals in the Philippines and Vietnam. Falls, defined in this study as “unintentional events resulting in the person coming to rest on the ground or another lower level” were examined concerning various independent variables, including sociodemographic, biophysical, and psychological factors.

The findings reveal that 17.3% of older individuals in the Philippines and 7.3% in Vietnam experienced falls within the 12 months preceding the interviews. Across both countries, experiencing functional impairments and reporting multiple pain locations were linked to increased odds of falls among older individuals. In the Philippines, factors such as higher educational attainment, cohabitation, urban residency, and weaker grip strength were significantly associated with falls. Additionally, in Vietnam, reporting more chronic health conditions emerged as another significant factor. These findings provide valuable insights into factors that should be taken into account when devising preventive strategies against falls in rapidly aging societies like the Philippines and Vietnam.

Authors: Philile Sharon Mgabhi (PhD Program in Global Health and Health Security, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University), Tuo-Yu Chen (PhD Program in Global Health and Health Security, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University), Grace Cruz (Population Institute, University of Philippines Diliman), Nguyen C. Vu (Institute of Population, Health and Development, Hanoi) and Yasuhiko Saito (College of Economics, Nihon University | Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2024.111336