In a study of seniors over the age of 60 living in a community setting, different factors were associated with an increased risk of falling in men and women. Study results, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, indicate:

• Factors that increase short-term fall risk in women include living alone, needing help with daily activities, and a history of falling.
• Factors that increase short-term fall risk in men include low blood pressure, difficulty standing up from a sitting position, and a history of falling.
• Factors that increase long-term fall risk in women include being underweight, cognitive impairment, use of certain medications (blood pressure or diabetes medicine, for example), and needing help with daily activities.
• Factors that increase long-term fall risk in men include smoking, cardiovascular disease, impaired balance, and a history of falling.

This study was conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Falls are a serious problem for older adults and, according to the researchers, learning more about gender-related risk factors could help improve screening and prevention strategies.