A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Relationship Between Fall Risk and Other Geriatric Syndromes

Objective: Falls are important geriatric syndromes that can result in morbidity and mortality in elderly individuals. Many factors increase the risk of falls. To effectively control falls it is important to reveal its relationship with other geriatric syndromes.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 4 months from September 2019 to January 2020. Fall risk assessment was done with the Tinetti test and the timed up and go (TUG) test. All patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment tests.Results: The study population was composed of 93 women and 57 men, and the mean age was 73 +/- 9.2 years. It was observed that the scores obtained from the Katz and Lawton-Brody scales were lower in patients with a high risk of falls. Handgrip strength, skeletal muscle mass index, mini-nutritional assessment score, and mini-mental status assessment score were lower in these patients. Geriatric depression scale score, fried and SOF frailty index scores, and the number of drugs used were higher in them. Frailty, handgrip strength, gait speed, and depression were independently associated with Tinetti-measured fall risk in linear regression analysis (R-2=0.414; p<0.001, p=0.004, p=0.002, p=0.027). IADL and gait speed were found to be independently associated with fall risk according to TUG (R-2=0.550; p=0.012, p<0.001).Conclusion: In our study, we concluded that there is a close relationship between the risk of falls and other geriatric syndromes. Effective management of geriatric syndromes will help reduce the risk of falls.