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.