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Using Motion Capture Technology in the Instrumented Timed Up and Go Test to Detect the Risk of Falling in Aged Adults
Published on: October 25, 2024
[Risk factors for falls in the elderly: systematic review]
Zenewton André da Silva Gama1, Antonia Gómez-Conesa
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Meta-Análisis, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España. zenewton.andre@alu.um.es
Revista De Saude Publica
|October 4, 2008
Summary
This systematic review identified key risk factors for falls in older adults, including previous falls, gait and cognitive impairments, and medication use. Methodological improvements are needed for future studies on fall prevention in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Falls are a significant public health concern among the elderly population.
- Identifying modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors is crucial for effective fall prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize findings from prospective cohort studies on risk factors for falls in older adults.
- To evaluate the methodological quality of existing research in this area.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of epidemiological studies was conducted using Medline, SciELO, and Lilacs databases.
- Inclusion criteria comprised prospective cohort studies with over 100 participants (aged >64 years) from community or nursing home settings.
- Studies published between 1988 and 2005 were included.
Main Results:
- Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing varied methodologies.
- Key risk factors identified include: history of falls, impaired gait and cognition, use of psychotropic medications, and excessive physical activity.
- Being female and advanced age were also suggested as potential predictors, though findings were sometimes contradictory.
Conclusions:
- Prospective cohort studies on falls in the elderly exhibit methodological limitations.
- Future research should focus on extrinsic determinants, employ evaluator blinding, and implement closer monitoring with reduced recall periods for more robust evidence.
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