Shah VN, et al. - Authors assess fall frequency and factors affecting falls among middle-aged and older adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This is the first study on prevalence and risk factors for falls. Findings suggested that in T1D, falls are common and severe hypoglycemia was a unique diabetes-related factor associated with threefold higher risk for falls.

Methods

• An email-based questionnaire on falls in the prior 12 months was completed by participants aged ≥55 years with T1D.
• Experts gathered demographic, clinical, and fall-related information from the questionnaire; HbA1c was recorded from medical record data extraction.

Results

• As per data, 435 adults with T1D completed the fall questionnaire (mean age 64 ± 7 years, 57% females, and 97% were non-Hispanic whites).
• Findings suggested that 36 years was the the mean diabetes duration with mean HbA1c of 7.3%.
• A total of 126 among the 435 participants reported at least one fall in the prior 12 months (29%).
• In adults (55-64 years) with T1D and older adults (>65 years) the fall frequency values were 26 and 32%, respectively (p = 0.16).
• Results demonstrated that no significant difference in frequency of fall between female and male participants was noted (31 vs. 26%, p = 0.33).
• Researchers noted that out of 126 participants who had a fall, 44% had injuries due to fall, 24% required medical attention, and 13 participants reported fracture (10%).
• They noted an association of severe hypoglycemia (odds ratio (OR) 3.6), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (OR 2.2), and depression (OR 1.7) with falls in adults with T1D.
• A fear of falls was noted in 41% of participants.