Cross-sectional analysis identifies social determinants affecting fall occurrence and frequency in older adults, indicating tailored preventive strategies are needed.
Key Points
This research aims to explore the impact of social determinants of health on fall risk and frequency in older adults living independently.
Conducted a cross-sectional study using a nationwide sample of 9746 older adults in Korea.
Analyzed fall occurrence as the dependent variable using various socioeconomic and environmental factors as independent variables.
Employed zero-inflated negative binomial regression to handle excess zeros and overdispersion in the data.
94.8% of participants did not experience any falls; 3.2% had one fall, and 1.9% had recurrent falls.
Higher household income, lack of age-friendly housing, better access to parks, and lower access to welfare centers were linked to increased fall occurrence risk.
Higher education, the presence of age-friendly housing, and outdoor mobility barriers were associated with increased fall frequency for at-risk individuals.