Relationship Between Nutritional Factors, Sports Practicing and Falls
among Elderly People in Baghdad City, Iraq, 2012
Abstract:
Ageing of the population is one of the most important demographic
facts that came to the foreground in the 21st century. Apart from social and
economic problems, the elderly population is very much associated with health
problem. Nutrition is an important factor in falls prevention among elderly,
as weakness results from a loss of muscle mass and strength, neuromuscular impairment,
immobilisation and malnutrition. This study was conducted to assess the relationship
between nutritional factors and sport with falls among elderly people in Baghdad
city, Iraq. A matched 1:1 community based case-control study involving 716 elderly
respondents, recruited randomly from six Non Governmental Organization (NGO)
in different areas of Baghdad. Interview questionnaire to each respondent were
done accordingly. Food frequency questionnaire were used to obtain the dietary
information on weekly frequency of eating certain common food item in Iraq and
anthropometric measurement (weight and height) were obtained to get the BMI.
The minimum age for cases and controls were 60, the maximum age for cases was
87 years old and 85 years old for controls. Female were predominant than males
and were 53.6 and 46.4% respectively. The association between BMI and falls
was statistically significant (p = 0.004). Practicing sport or walk exercise
was a protective factor for falls. All the micronutrients were significantly
associated with falls except for vitamin C. It is concluded that nutrition of
the elderly is one of the important risk factors contributing to falls. Elderly
with low dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D, phosphorus, Protein and Iron
are at risk for falls. Elderly not practicing sport are at higher risk of falls.
How to cite this article
Mohammed A. Abdal Qader, Rahmah Mohd. Amin, Shamsul Azhar Shah, Zaleha Md. Isa and Hasanain Faisal Ghazi, 2013. Relationship Between Nutritional Factors, Sports Practicing and Falls
among Elderly People in Baghdad City, Iraq, 2012. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 12: 491-495.
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