高齢者の転倒状況と転倒後の身体的変化に関する調査研究

A Study of Falls Among Elderly Living in the Community

要旨

　茨城県古河市において過去1年間に転倒経験を認め，調査可能な161名に対して自記式郵送法による調査を実施した．調査内容は，1年間の転倒の回数，場所，時間，原因，内服状況，受傷および受療の状況などである．有効回答者は132名（有効回答率，82.0％，男性46名，女性86名），平均年齢は73.7±6.4歳であり，以下の結果を得た．

（1）1年間の転倒回数では平均1.8±2.4回であった．転倒の場所は，屋外が68.9％，転倒の原因は，外的要因が70.5％であった．

（2）内服薬と転倒による受傷の有無については有意差を認められなかったが，利尿剤，次に降圧剤の順に受傷が多い傾向にあった．

（3）転倒によって受傷した者は，体が痛む，疲れ易くなった，外出が少なくなった，歩く動作がぎこちなくなったなどの身体的変化を来す者が受傷しない者と比べて有意に多かった．

　地域の高齢者の転倒は，その後の健康を損うきっかけになっていることが明らかになった．今後，地域における高齢者のQOLを維持するためには，転倒予防を始め看護の果たす役割は大きいことが示唆された．

Abstract

　This study was conducted to mainly investigate the causes of falls among elderly living in the community and also to clarify the status of the elderly one year after they experienced falls. Subjects who had lived in Koga city, Ibaraki prefecture were chosen. An average age of the subjects (n＝132) was 73.7±6.4 years. Self administrated questionnaire was employed.

　The main results were obtained as follows.

1) The average of the falls of a subject for the past one year was 1.75±2.40 times. About 70 percent of the falls occured outdoor. About 70 percent of the causes of the falls were extrinsic.

2) The higher injuries frequency occured among those who got medical treatment. Diuretic and hypotensive drugs occupide the major two kinds of all.

3) The physical symptoms such as pains, fatigues, walking problems, as well as less active behavior characterized those who experienced the fall-caused external injuries.

　The falls triggered off deteriorating the elderly's healthy physical status. It was suggested that nursing intervention was very important to prevent falls among elderly in the community to maintaine their quality of life (Q.O.L).