The aim of this study was to select useful items for assessing fall risk in healthy elderly Japanese individuals.

A total of 965 healthy elderly Japanese subjects aged ≥60 years (349 males 70.4 ± 7.1 years, 616 females 69.9 ± 7.1 years) participated in this study. Of these, 16.6% had suffered from a previous fall. We assumed five fall risk factors: symptoms of falling, physical function, disease and physical symptoms, environment, and behavior and character. Eighty-six items were selected to represent these factors. To confirm the component items for each risk factor, we performed factor analysis (principle factor solution and varimax rotation). The high-fall risk response rate was also calculated for each item, and significant differences in this rate were examined between groups of those who had and not had experienced a fall.

Useful items were selected using the following criteria: (1) items showing a significant difference in high fall risk response rate between faller and non-faller groups were selected as useful items; (2) items showing low factor loading ( Conclusions

Based on our results, the selected items can comprehensively assess the fall risk of a healthy elderly Japanese population. In addition, the assessment items for physical function comprised items of different levels of difficulty, and these are able to gradually and comprehensively assess physical function.