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Injurious falls before, during, and after depression diagnosis: Results from two longitudinal population-based
Lulu Zhang1, Jiao Wang2, Xiaokang Dong3
1Department of Medical Records Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|January 21, 2026
Summary
Injurious falls increase depression risk, particularly before age 45 and after age 60. Fall incidence rises before depression diagnosis and declines afterward.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Investigating the link between injurious falls and depression is crucial for public health.
- Understanding the temporal relationship between falls and depression can inform preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between injurious falls and the subsequent risk of depression.
- To analyze the long-term trajectory of injurious falls in relation to depression diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Population-based prospective cohort study using UK Biobank and Swedish Twin Registry data.
- Matched case-control analysis comparing individuals with depression to matched controls.
- Assessment of injurious fall trajectories and incident depression over extended follow-up periods.
Main Results:
- Injurious falls at any age are associated with an increased risk of depression (HR 1.44, OR 1.48).
- The association is stronger for falls before age 45 and after age 60.
- Injurious fall incidence increases 3 years pre-depression diagnosis and declines 6 years post-diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Injurious falls are a significant risk factor for developing depression.
- Falls occurring in younger adulthood (before 45) and older age (after 60) warrant particular attention.
- The pre-diagnostic rise in falls suggests a potential prodromal phase for depression.
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