BACKGROUND: Falls in the elderly can lead to disability, hospitalizations, and premature death. Even if the fall does not cause significant injury, it may lead to fear of falling, loss of self confidence and restriction of ambulation. Thus, we conducted this study to examine the risk factors of falls in the elderly. METHODS: The study population consisted of 70 persons, older than 65 years. Subjocts were subdivided into 3 groups according to their experience of falls, during the past 2 year period. Among them, 30 persons had no previous experience, 20 had one fall, and 20 more than one fall. Age, past history, situations surrounding falls, MMSE K, GDS short form, ADL, IADL, Mini Nutritional assessment (MNA) were reviewed, and the Get up and go test, evaluation of orthostic hypotension and hearing were done. T-test, chi square, ANOVA, logistic regression test using the SAS program was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 75.4 years with 62.9% malas. The factors associated with falling were age (P=0.01), scores of MNA (P=0.04), Get up and go test (P=0.004), past history (P=0.01), MMSE K (P=0.02), GDS short form (P=0.001), ADL (P=0.003) and IADL (P=0.002). Those in the group who fell once occured mostly while doing a riskful task, while those who fell more than once happened mostly during positional change (p<0.0001). Independent predictors of falls were get up and go test results and GDS short form scores. CONCLUSION: The independent predictors of falls were Get up and go test results and Geriatric Depression Scale scores.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Depression ; Hearing ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Logistic Models ; Mortality, Premature ; Nutrition Assessment ; Risk Factors* ; Walking

Differentiated thyroid cancer demonstrates a wide range of clinical presentations, from very indolent cases to those with an aggressive prognosis. Therefore, diagnosing and treating each cancer appropriately based on its risk status is important. The Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) has provided and amended the clinical guidelines for thyroid cancer management since 2007. The main changes in this revised 2024 guideline include 1) individualization of surgical extent according to pathological tests and clinical findings, 2) application of active surveillance in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, 3) indications for minimally invasive surgery, 4) adoption of World Health Organization pathological diagnostic criteria and definition of terminology in Korean, 5) update on literature evidence of recurrence risk for initial risk stratification, 6) addition of the role of molecular testing, 7) addition of definition of initial risk stratification and targeting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations according to ongoing risk stratification (ORS), 8) addition of treatment of perioperative hypoparathyroidism, 9) update on systemic chemotherapy, and 10) addition of treatment for pediatric patients with thyroid cancer.