Prevalence of fall risk and fear of falling among older adults in the Middle East and North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Globally, falls are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults (individuals aged ≥60 years). In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, home to over 57 million older adults, data on key fall-related risk factors are limited, constraining targeted prevention efforts. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of fall risk and fear of falling among older adults in the 20 MENA countries.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Google (up to November 2025). Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality. We estimated pooled prevalence using random-effects meta-analysis and conducted meta-regression to explore heterogeneity.

Results