scholarly journals Predictors of Falls in Older Adults With and Without Dementia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 447-448
Author(s):  
Safiyyah Okoye ◽  
Chanee Fabius ◽  
Jennifer Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Socioeconomic Indicators ◽  
Caregiver Education ◽  
Recurrent Falls ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls

Abstract Persons living with dementia (PLWD) have up to twice the risk for falling and three-times the risk of serious fall-related injuries as those without dementia. Falls are a leading cause of hospitalizations among PLWD, who are more likely to incur high costs and experience negative health consequences (e.g, delirium, in-hospital falls) than persons without dementia. Few studies have examined risk factors for falls comparing Americans with and without dementia. We used data from the 2015 and 2016 rounds of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (n=5,581) to prospectively identify risk factors for a single fall and recurrent (2+) falls over a 12-month period among community-living older adults ≥65 years with and without dementia in a series of bivariate logistic regressions. Overall, we identified fewer predictors of single or recurrent falls among PLWD compared to persons without dementia. For example, socioeconomic indicators (e.g., income, financial hardship) predicted recurrent falls in persons without dementia, but not in PLWD. Among PLWD, falling in the previous year was associated with both single (odds ratio (OR): 3.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.77, 6.49) and recurrent falls (OR: 6.19, 95% CI: 3.50, 10.93). PLWD who experienced recurrent falls were also more likely to be identified as having a fear of falling (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.54), physical function impairments, depression symptoms (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.34, 3.71), and anxiety symptoms (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.62). Further study of fall-risk factors could inform screening, caregiver education and support, and prevention strategies for PLWD.

The Relationship Between Fear of Falling and Functional Fitness among Older Adults Living in Rest Home

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Tuna ◽  
Ö Bozan ◽  
B Gürpınar ◽  
N İlçin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
Rest Home ◽  
History Of

Objective: This study aimed to report the fear of falling and assess its associations with several fall-related characteristics and functional fitness parameters among older adults living in the rest home. Methods: Seventy-eight older adults aged between 65-94 years were included in the study. History of falling and the number of risk factors for falling were recorded. Fear of falling was evaluated with The Falls Efficacy ScaleInternational. Functional fitness was assessed with Senior Fitness Test, including tests for the functional measurement of strength, flexibility, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance. Result: The mean age of participants was 78.46±7.16 years. There were correlations exist between fear of falling and number of fall risk factors, dynamic balance, upper body flexibility and aerobic endurance (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the parameters with the highest determinants of fear of falling were the dynamic balance and history of falling (p<0.05). Conclusions: In our study, history of falling, number of fall risk factors, flexibility for the upper body, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance were parameters related to fear of falling among older adults, but the most influential factors in fear of falling were dynamic balance and history of falling.

scholarly journals Medications & Polypharmacy Influence on Recurrent Fallers in Community: a Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Ming ◽  
Aleksandra Zecevic
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Falls Prevention ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Prescription Medications ◽  
Recurrent Falls ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize information about the impact different classes of medications and polypharmacy have on recurrent falls, defined as two or more falls in a 12-month period, in community-dwelling older adults. After adjustment for confounders such as age, gender, weight or depression symptoms, the reviewed studies suggested that older adults who use antidepressants, sedatives or hypnotics and anti-epileptics were more likely to experience recurrent falls than non-users. Polypharmacy (use of four or more prescription medications daily) caused 1.5–2 times higher possibility of recurrent falls in older adults. As a high-risk group, recurrent fallers require meaningful intervention. Medications are believed to be a modifiable risk factor in falls prevention; hence, special consideration should be taken to balance the benefit and harm in initiating, continuing or increasing certain classes of medications in elderly recurrent fallers.

scholarly journals Risk of falls and fear of falling in older adults residing in public housing in Ontario, Canada: findings from a multisite observational study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Pirrie ◽  
Guneet Saini ◽  
Ricardo Angeles ◽  
Francine Marzanek ◽  
Jenna Parascandalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Public Housing ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
The Past ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls

Abstract Background Falls in older adults is a widely researched topic. However, older adults residing in public housing are a vulnerable population that may have unique risk factors for falls. This study aims to describe the prevalence and risk factors for falls, fear of falling, and seeking medical attending for falls in this population. Methods Sociodemographic and health-related data was collected as part of a community-based health assessment program with older adults in public housing. Three pre-screening questions identified individuals at potential risk for falls; individuals who screened positive performed the objective Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors for four outcome variables: falls in the past year, seeking medical attention for falls, fear of falling, and objectively measured fall risk via TUG test. Results A total of 595 participants were evaluated, of which the majority were female (81.3%), white (86.7%), did not have a high school diploma (50.0%), and reported problems in mobility (56.2%). The prevalence of falls in the past year was 34.5%, seeking medical attention for falls was 20.2% and fear of falling was 38.8%. The TUG test was completed by 257 participants. Notably, males had significantly reduced odds of seeking medical attention for a fall (OR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.25–0.98) and having a fear of falling (OR = 0.42, 95%CI 0.24–0.76); daily fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with decreased odds of having a fall in the past year (OR = 0.55, 95%CI 0.37–0.83), and alcohol consumption was associated with increased odds of fear of falling (OR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.03–2.88). Conclusion Older adults residing in public housing have unique risk factors associated with social determinants of health, such as low fruit and vegetable consumption, which may increase their risk for falls. The findings of this study can be used to inform falls interventions for this population and identify areas for further research.

scholarly journals Risk Factors for Falls in Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness: Results from the HOPE HOME Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1813-1820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Abbs ◽  
Rebecca Brown ◽  
David Guzman ◽  
Lauren Kaplan ◽  
Margot Kushel
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls

scholarly journals FALL RISK BEHAVIORS AND INTRINSIC RISK FACTORS FOR FALLS IN INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS RURAL OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S471-S472
Author(s):  
Andre G Bouweraerts ◽  
Justus Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
Fall Rates ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls

Abstract Within California, older adults living in rural counties have reported higher rates of falls than urban dwelling older adults. Although many Indigenous people live in rural areas, it is unclear whether the rate of falls among Indigenous older adults is similar to that of non-indigenous older adults living in rural areas. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine fall risk behaviors and intrinsic risk factors for falls in rural dwelling Indigenous (N = 89), and non-Indigenous (N = 68) older adults 60-95 years of age living in California. Results showed that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous older adults share similarly high fall rates, but there are a much greater number of Indigenous older adults falling multiple times a year. Moreover, fall risk behaviors and intrinsic fall risk factors were significantly different between Indigenous and non-Indigenous rural-dwelling older adults. Future studies should investigate falls and fall risk factors in different tribes/locations of Indigenous older adults to better understand whether these risk factors differ among tribes. Moreover, it would be beneficial for future studies to assess the effectiveness of fall prevention exercises on fall risk in these communities. Information gained from this study helps to inform clinicians and researchers alike about the prevalence of falls and factors contributing to falls among Indigenous older adults living in rural communities; and helps to influence decisions in the future of programs for reducing fall risk in this often neglected population.

scholarly journals COGNITIVE APPRAISAL AND KNOWLEDGE AS RISK FACTORS FOR HIGH FEAR OF FALLING IN OLDER AND MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS IN SINGAPORE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S473-S473
Author(s):  
Pey June Tan ◽  
Reuben Ng ◽  
Angelique Chan ◽  
Jagadish U Mallya ◽  
Noor Hafizah Ismail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Cognitive Appraisal ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
History Of ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Balance Problems

Abstract Fear-of-falling (FOF) can be adaptive or maladaptive depending on one’s appraisal of knowledge and beliefs, but few have elucidated this cognitive process in older adults surrounding falls. We aim to identify risk factors for high FOF amongst community-dwelling older adults (OA) and middle-aged adults (MA) in Singapore. This was a cross-sectional survey of a nationally-representative sample of OA (≥60 years) and MA (40-59 years) identified by stratified random sampling. Primary outcome was high FOF measured by a single-item (4-point scale). Independent variables were history-of-falls, quality-of-life, fall-related cognitive appraisal (balance problems, importance to restrict activities to prevent falls) and knowledge indicators (knowledge of other OA who fell, ability to identify out of 13 fall risk factors). MA were also asked if they’re caregivers. Multiple logistic regressions identified risk factors for high FOF separately by age-groups, adjusting for socio-demographics and comorbidities. The final analysis included 549 OA (70.6±6.88 years) and 309 MA (49.7±5.89 years). No differences in high FOF was found among OA and MA (37% vs. 38%, p=0.305), but there were more falls among OA (19% vs 12%, p=0.010). Higher knowledge of fall risk factors and self-reported balance problems were significant risk factors for high FOF among OA only, while a history-of-falls and being a caregiver were significant among MA only. Perceived importance to restrict activities was associated with high FOF in both age-groups. Although findings suggest differences in the mechanism of high FOF between OA and MA, both age-groups have maladaptive appraisal tendencies related to restrict activities to prevent falls.

scholarly journals Does Lower Extremity Osteoarthritis Exacerbate Risk Factors for Falls in Older Adults?

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 685-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mackenzie L Hoops ◽  
Noah J Rosenblatt ◽  
Christopher P Hurt ◽  
Jeremy Crenshaw ◽  
Mark D Grabiner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls

scholarly journals Sarcopenic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Risk Factor for Recurrent Falls

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Iijima ◽  
Tomoki Aoyama
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Recurrent Falls ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Interactive Relationship ◽  
Falls In Older Adults ◽  
Risk Factors For Falls ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background: Sarcopenia and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are major risk factors for falls in older adults. The coexistence of these two conditions may exacerbate the risk of falls through the sarcopenia-OA interaction. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that older adults with coexisting sarcopenia and knee OA, defined as “sarcopenic OA,” displayed an increased risk of falls.Methods: Patients in an orthopedics clinic (n = 298, age: 60–90 years, 78.9% women) were divided into 4 groups according to the presence of sarcopenia and radiographic knee OA: isolated sarcopenia, isolated knee OA, sarcopenic knee OA, and control (i.e., non-sarcopenia with non-OA) groups. We used questionnaires to assess fall experience in the prior 12 months. We performed binary and ordinal logistic regression analyses to evaluate the relationship between the 4 groups and falls experience.Results: Of 298 participants, 27 (9.1%) had sarcopenic knee OA. Patients with sarcopenic knee OA had 4.70 times (95% confidence interval: 1.08, 20.5) higher odds of recurrent falls (≥ 2 falls) than those with control after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index.Conclusions: Patients with sarcopenic knee OA displayed higher frailty. This study provides novel interactive relationship between sarcopenia and knee OA in the context of recurrent falls experience.Trial registration: Not applicable.

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