Association between chronic diseases and falls among middle-aged and older adults

Abstract

Falls are a common health problem among older adults and can lead to serious health issues including reduced mobility and increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of falls and chronic conditions among middle-aged and older adults in Saudi Arabia, as well as the association between them. A total of 437 participants (179 men and 258 women) between 45 and 90 years of age were included in this cross-sectional study. A history of chronic diseases and previous falls was taken. The chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare the type and number of chronic diseases between fallers and non-fallers. The odds ratios of falling in relation to chronic diseases were also calculated. The results showed that 128 people (29.3%) had fallen during the past 12-month period. The prevalence of falls was significantly higher among older adults (37.4%) than middle-aged people (24.1%) ( p = 0.003). There were 317 individuals (72.5%) who reported having one or more chronic diseases. The prevalence of chronic diseases was significantly higher among older adults (88.3%) than middle-aged people (62.4%) ( p ≤ 0.001). Participants with at least one chronic disease were more likely to experience falls ( p ≤ 0.001). The prevalence of chronic diseases was 84.4% among individuals who had fallen and 67.6% among non-fallers. After controlling for demographic characteristics, heart disease and asthma showed significant associations with falls. However, after full adjustment by additionally including clinical characteristics, female sex and walking aid use remained independently associated with falls. Falls were common among middle-aged and older adults in Saudi Arabia, especially among women. Although heart disease and asthma were associated with falls in the partially adjusted analyses, female sex and walking aid use emerged as the strongest independent predictors after full adjustment.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Public Health, 2026 · DOI ↗