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Predictors of falls in the elderly by location
Astrid Bergland1, Gun-Britt Jarnlo, Knut Laake
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo University College, Oslo, Norway. Astrid.Bergland@hf.hio.no
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
|July 5, 2003
Summary
Predicting falls in older women requires considering fall location. Risk factors for indoor falls differ from those for outdoor falls, highlighting the importance of location in fall prevention research.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Balance and walking impairments are significant factors in elderly falls.
- Prospective assessment of health, function, and balance variables is crucial for understanding fall risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively assess health, function, and balance variables for predicting falls in elderly women.
- To investigate if fall predictors differ based on the fall location (indoor vs. outdoor).
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 307 women aged 75+ living in the community.
- Falls were recorded over one year and correlated with baseline health, medication, walking, and balance assessments.
Main Results:
- Over half of the women (50.5%) experienced falls, with outdoor falls being more common.
- Previous falls, osteoporosis, hypertension, depression, difficulty with steps, and slow walking predicted more falls overall.
- Vision impairment, depression symptoms, faster walking speed, and step coping ability predicted outdoor falls, while slower walking, balance control, mobility tests, cognitive function, and hypertension predicted indoor falls.
Conclusions:
- Risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls in the elderly are distinct.
- Fall location is a critical factor that should be considered in studies predicting falls in older adults.