Risk factors and incidence of falls among fifth-and sixth-grade children in Seoul, South Korea

This study aimed to determine the incidence of falls among children in South Korea, and the risk factors associated with these falls in order to develop preventive strategies. We studied 1,044 elementary school students in the fifth and sixth grades from Seoul, South Korea and evaluated the incidence of falls based on four surveys conducted in June, September, and December 2010 and February 2011.The surveys included the number of falls, the types of medical care received, and the potential factors associated with those falls. Risk factors related to the falls were examined using a generalized estimating equation method. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS, version 9.2. The overall incidence of falls was 376 per 1,000 person-years; and a total of 44 children were hospitalized. Having a previous history of fall [odds ratio (OR) = 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.64] and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (OR=3.63; 95%CI: 2.97-4.44) were risk factors associated with falls. Comparative analyses of the odds of having a single fall versus recurrent falls showed that ADHD (p<0.001) and overweight/obesity (p=0.004) were significantly associated with risk of recurrent falls. These results suggest novel safety programs should be developed taking these risk factors into consideration in order to reduce the incidence of falls among children in South Korea.