Prevalence, circumstances, and consequences of falls in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus – A descriptive cross-sectional study in selected urban hospitals in Sri Lanka

Background & Aim: Falls are a major health concern for older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), necessitating a better understanding of risk factors and prevention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, circumstances, and consequences of falls among older adults with T2DM.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a purposive sample of 180 older adults with T2DM individuals attending outpatient diabetes clinics of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and Colombo East Base Hospital were recruited. Socio-demographics, T2DM-specific data, and history of falls were assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Number of falls, circumstances, and consequences of the falls of the last three falls were recorded retrospectively during the past 12 months. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0.Results: Among 180 T2DM participants (mean age=66.61; SD=5.35 years), 38.3% (n=69) were males and 61.7% (n=111) were females. Approximately 22% (n=49) of adults with T2DM experienced falls during the previous 12 months. Fallers were reported with a significantly higher median age (median=68; IQR-65-71 years) compared to non-fallers (median=65; IQR-62-69; p<0.05). The majority of the falls occurred in the morning (n=25, 51.0%), in the forward direction (n=25; 51.0%), and inside the home (n=23, 46.9%) while walking (n=29, 59.2%) due to slips (n=23, 46.9%). The prevalence of fractures among fallers was 13.8%, and most of the falls resulted in bruises (n=31.0%).Conclusions & Recommendations: The findings highlight a high prevalence of falls and associated injuries in older adults with T2DM. Although the majority of falls resulted in minor injuries like bruises, a notable percentage led to fractures. Targeted fall prevention programs focusing on home safety, balance training, and slip prevention are essential to reduce fall-related complications in this population.