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Understanding Risk Factors for Older Adult Falls: A Review of the BRFSS Findings

Understanding Risk Factors for Older Adult Falls: A Review of the BRFSS Findings. LaTonya Bynum Arkansas BRFSS Survey Coordinator July 26, 2011. Outline. Overview of BRFSS survey History and purpose of BRFSS Background of Older Adult Falls in Arkansas Limitations

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Understanding Risk Factors for Older Adult Falls: A Review of the BRFSS Findings

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  1. Understanding Risk Factors for Older Adult Falls: A Review of the BRFSS Findings LaTonya Bynum Arkansas BRFSS Survey Coordinator July 26, 2011

  2. Outline • Overview of BRFSS survey • History and purpose of BRFSS • Background of Older Adult Falls in Arkansas • Limitations • Review of BRFSS survey results • Conclusions

  3. What is BRFSS? • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System • Random digit dial state based telephone survey • Adults ages 18 and older • Measures personal behaviors that put health at risk • Collaboration between CDC and States/Territories • Arkansas BRFSS participation since 1993

  4. Who uses it? • State and Local Health Departments • Students and Researchers • Non-Profit Agencies • Federal Agencies • Research organizations • Insurance companies • Media

  5. How it is used? • Plan and implement programs like the UAMS Disability and Health Program • Develop plans to reduce the burden of Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Disease, and Tobacco • Identify health disparities across the state • Prepare grant proposals for state and local level projects • Conduct public health awareness campaigns for the Arkansas BreastCare program • Publish scientific articles in professional journals

  6. What is the BRFSS Fall Question? The next question asks about a recent fall. By fall, we mean when a person unintentionally comes to rest on the ground or another lower level. In the past 3 months, how many times have you fallen? Response choices are: _ _ Number of times (0 to 76) None Don’t Know/Not Sure Refused. *asked of persons ages 45 and older

  7. Fall-Related Deaths & Hospitalizations • Number of Deaths: 184 • Number of Deaths to Adults Age 65+: 148 • Number Hospitalized: 14,498 • Number of Adults Age 65+ Hospitalized:10,407 • Average Hospital Stay Cost: $22,412 • Average Number of Hospital Days: 5 Source: Arkansas Health Statistics Branch Hospital Discharge and Vital Statistics Systems

  8. Limitations of Study • BRFSS is a telephone-based survey and excludes household without landline telephones, so the estimates may be subject to selection bias • Data are self-reported and subject to recall bias. Prevalence estimates might be underestimated. • BRFSS does not include institutionalized persons, thereby excludes persons in long-term care facilities, who are most at risk for falls.

  9. Description of BRFSS Results • Percentage of falls within the past 3 months among persons 65 and older for 2008 and 2010 combined.

  10. Falls Among Older Adults:Demographics

  11. Falls Among Older Adults:General Health Status

  12. Falls Among Older Adults:Co-Morbidity/Condition

  13. Conclusions • The following older adult populations are at a statistically significant higher risk of experiencing a fall: • Males ages 75 and Older • Females who are physically inactive • Females with Diabetes • Persons reporting Fair or Poor Health • Persons with a Disability • Persons reporting lack of satisfaction with life

  14. Thank You! LaTonya Bynum Arkansas BRFSS Survey Coordinator LaTonya.Bynum@arkansas.gov Toll Free Phone: 1-800-462-0599 EXT. 2003

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