Association between self-perceived fatigue, muscular fatigue and sleep disturbances with falls in older adults: A...

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between fatigue, muscle fatigue, physical performance, sleep disturbances, and fall risk in older adults. In 217 residents (mean age 80.2 ± 4.3 years, 65.9 % female), objective muscle fatigue was assessed using handgrip strength measurements, alongside subjective fatigue (MFI), insomnia (AIS), sleep apnea risk (STOP-BANG), and physical performance (SPPB). Falls were documented retrospectively (12 months) and prospectively (4 months). 39.6 % of participants were classified as fallers. Objective muscle fatigue and SPPB were found to be independently associated with increased fall risk (AOR=3.45 and AOR=2.75, respectively). These risks were further elevated when combined with sleep disorders (AOR=3.34-5.05 for muscle fatigue; AOR=3.57-4.41 for physical performance). Poor muscle recovery with sleep disorders showed the strongest associations (AOR=5.12-5.21), while subjective fatigue showed no significant associations. Objective measurements of muscle fatigue and recovery are strongly associated with increased fall risk, particularly when combined with sleep disturbances. These findings emphasise the importance of including objective assessments of muscle fatigue and recovery in fall risk evaluations and propose that future studies should explore intervention strategies targeting both muscle fatigue and sleep quality in older adults.