A recent study published in the Aging Male has highlighted the significant rate of falls among older adults living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study followed 242 patients aged 65 and older with a median age of 70 years. The investigation assessed the prevalence and causes of falls in this demographic. The population under analysis often faces complex comorbidities.
A comprehensive set of tools was used to assess fall risk, including the Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model (HIIFRM), the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, and the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). 41.3% of participants had experienced at least one fall in the previous year.
Among the most significant predictors of falls were hypoglycemia, polypharmacy, malnutrition, osteoarthritis, and neuropathy. Hypoglycemia nearly doubled the fall risk, while patients on multiple medications (polypharmacy) were more than twice as likely to fall. Malnourished individuals and patients with osteoarthritis had a significantly higher prevalence of falls. Older age and longer diabetes duration were independently linked with increased fall risk.