Prevalence and factors associated with falls among older people living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda

Falls result in adverse outcomes such as hospitalization, disability, and increased mortality among older people. There is a paucity of data on falls among older PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with falls among older PLHIV in Kampala, Uganda. We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of 500 people aged ≥ 60. We administered structured questionnaires to collect participants' characteristics, the number and type of falls in the previous 2 years. We then performed a modified Poisson regression analysis to assess the factors associated with falls. Overall, 51.2% were male. The mean age was 65 years (SD ± 4.9 years), and 41.2% reported having a fall in the previous 2 years. Falling was associated with being female (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01-1.63), current (PR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05-1.96), or past alcohol use (PR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.07-1.87), and low household income (PR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07-1.64). Given the high prevalence of falls found in our study, integrating risk awareness and screening for falls into the routine care of older people with HIV is desirable. Effective education programs aimed at promoting alcohol cessation could reduce the occurrence of falls among older people living with HIV.