Falls in the elderly: Prevalence and explanatory factors in Kinshasa: Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Introduction: The fall of the elderly is a real fact and affects many elderly people at home. The objective of this study is to contribute to the prevention of falls in the elderly at home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 115 elderly people living at home in the city of Kinshasa. Data were collected in December 2021. The relationships between the prevalence of falls, the extrinsic or intrinsic characteristics of the elderly and the risk factors for falls were analysed by multivariable logistic regressions. Results: Analyses were performed on 115 seniors, more than 60% of whom were aged 75 years and over. The prevalence of falls was 41.7%. It was higher in patients who used psychotropic drugs with a sleep disorder (ORa= 9 [2.9-31.3]; p<0.001) and those with comorbidity (ORa=2.7[1.2-5.9]; p<0.001). The use of technical aids was found to be a protective factor (ORa=0.2 [0.1-0.9]; p<0.039). Conclusion: Falls of elderly people at home are frequent in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the lack of appropriate care institutions. In a context marked by the ageing of the population, a monitoring and supervision programme for the elderly and systematic screening to identify the risk factors for falls in the elderly living at home is essential if we want to significantly reduce its prevalence and consequences.