Prevalence of Falls among Obese and Non obese Elderly Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Ageing is a fundamental process that affects all of our systems and tissues. In older adults, functional fitness is determined by the ability to perform activities of daily living. Elderly is defined as being 65 years of age or older, however the onset of health problems of elderly may occur in early 50s or may be only in 40s. Falls represent the most common mechanism of injury and the leading cause of death from injury, in people older than age 65 years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is very common in elderly individuals. In that the diabetic neuropathy is most commonly seen complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus with a major impact on the health affected elderly individuals. Therefore, this study is design to make aware about risk of fall among the elderly individuals and its consequences of balance in elderly obese individuals on quality of life. Methodology: The study design is cross sectional study. 300 samples were taken. Elderly above 65 and with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included. Elderly with stroke, myocardial infarction were excluded. The study setting was rural community. Procedure: The informed consent form is taken from the individuals. Elderly with history falls were taken. Demographic data with body mass index were taken and divide individuals into obese and non-obese category. After that Timed Up and Go test, Community balance and Mobility scale were administered and Barthel index for activities of daily living were taken. Result: Paired t- test to find out the difference between risk of fall in obese diabetic fallers and Non-obese diabetic fallers. One - way analysis of variance to find out the difference between the components of balance in obese diabetic fallers and Non-obese diabetic fallers. Linear regression to find out the association between the body mass index and activities of daily living (ADL) in obese diabetic fallers. Descriptive analysis of data for Age, Gender, BMI. Conclusion: This study concluded that the obese elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus has impaired balance and increased risk of fall than the non-obese elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. And also, there were effect of obesity on activities of daily living in elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus of rural community. Key words: Ageing, Elderly, Falls, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Balance, ADL’s