Fall Risk and Its Determinants in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To quantify fall risk among community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes and to identify its associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 older adults with type 2 diabetes recruited from a community health service center in Shenzhen, China, from January to August 2024. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Fall-Risk Self-Assessment Questionnaire (FRQ), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify independent predictors.

Results: Overall, 43.2% of participants were classified as being at risk of falling. Fall risk scores differed significantly across demographic, clinical, and psychological variables. Multivariable analysis identified age (β=0.177), visual status (β=0.149), hypoglycemia in the past year (β=0.124), falls in the past year (β=0.287), anxiety (β=0.163), depression (β=0.119), and balance ability (β=−0.389) as independent predictors (all P < 0.05). Balance ability showed a moderate negative correlation with fall risk (r = −0.592, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Fall risk is highly prevalent among older adults with type 2 diabetes in community settings. Both physiological and psychological factors contribute to this risk, highlighting the need for a multidimensional assessment and targeted interventions.