S Conroy Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, University of Nottingham Introduction Screening for individuals at high risk of falls in the primary care setting requires an accurate understanding of the prevalence of falls and co-occurrence of falls risk factors. Methods We sent a postal questionnaire to all people >/=70 registered in 5 general practices in Nottingham and Derby, excluding those in care homes, those already known to a falls prevention programme and those with terminal illnesses. The questionnaire included eight self reported items. Results Number of individuals aged 70+ registered at the practices: 3651; 492 met exclusion criteria. 1653/3159 questionnaires were returned (response rate = 52%). Respondents’ characteristics: Median (IQR) age 77 (73-81.5), 55% women Risk factors (95% CI): Fall in previous year: 24% (23.5-26.1) > 4 drugs: 29% (28.3-31.3) Previous stroke: 9% (8.9-10.4) Parkinson’s: 1.5% (1.5-2.0) Unable to rise from chair without using arms to push up: 44% (42.9-46.5) Dizzy on standing: 33% (32.2-35.4) Need mobility aid: 30% (29.3-32.3) Confined to house: 16% (15.7-17.8) 28% had no falls risk factors, 25% one risk factor and 47% had two or more risk factors. Discussion The reported prevalence of falls in the previous year is lower than in published studies. A large proportion of people in the community have two or more risk factors for falls. This either requires population based interventions, or a large scale intervention programme. We are conducting a RCT of intervention in the high risk group. i32 Falls, Fractures and Trauma age and ageing British Geriatrics Society Abstracts of papers presented at the Autumn Scientific Meeting 4 - 6 October 2006 Volume 37 issue 1 www.ageing.oxfordjournals.org.uk SCREENING FOR RISK FACTORS FOR FALLS IN THE COMMUNITY SETTING Return to Author’s Index Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article-abstract/37/suppl_1/i32/31397 by guest on 28 May 2020