Objectives: this study estimated the frequency of recent falls and prevalence of fear of falling among adults aged 65 and older.
Design: a cross-sectional, list-assisted random digit dialling telephone survey of US adults from 2001 to 2003.
Subjects: 1,709 adults aged 65 or older who spoke either English or Spanish.
Methods: prevalence estimates were calculated for recent falls, fall injuries, fear of falling and fall prevention beliefs and behaviours.
Results: an estimated 3.5 million, or 9.6%, of older adults reported falling at least once in the past 3 months. About 36.2% of all older adults said that they were moderately or very afraid of falling. Few older adults who fell in the past 3 months reported making any changes to prevent future falls.
Conclusions: the high prevalence of falls and fear of falling among US older adults is of concern. Both can result in adverse health outcomes including decreased quality of life, functional limitations, restricted activity and depression. Older adults' fear of falling and their reluctance to adopt behaviours that could prevent future falls should be considered when designing fall prevention programmes.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afp053 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Falls and balance impairment; what and how has this been measured in adults with joint hypermobility? A scoping review.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord
January 2025
The Nick Davey Laboratory, Division of Surgery, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Sir Michael Uren Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 86 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
Background: People with joint hypermobility have excessive joint flexibility, which is more common in young women. The people with symptomatic hypermobility report poor balance and even falls. This scoping review aims to identify and map the available evidence related to balance and falling in adults with joint hypermobility to support research planning and ideas for treatment direction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of a video-supported Cawthorne-Cooksey exercise program in older adults with balance deficits and dizziness: A preliminary randomised pilot study.
Australas J Ageing
March 2025
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University - Alexander Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of a video-supported Cawthorne-Cooksey exercise program (CCEP) in improving balance, dizziness and decreasing fear of falling in older adults with balance deficits and dizziness.
Methods: Thirty-two older adults were divided into two groups (intervention and control). The intervention group followed a video-supported CCEP group, while the control group received written instructions to maintain their usual activity and counselling on fall prevention.
The Effect of Frailty on Balance, Fear of Falling, and Dual-Task Performance in Individuals with Type 2 DM.
Life (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Institute of Graduate Studies, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Türkiye.
The aim of this study was to compare balance, fear of falling, and dual-task performance in frail, pre-frail, and non-frail individuals with type 2 DM. The study included 110 voluntary individuals diagnosed with type 2 DM. Individuals with type 2 DM were divided into three groups according to the FRAIL Scale: frail ( = 26), pre-frail ( = 52), and non-frail ( = 32).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Comparative Study of Risk Factors for Falls in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients and Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Musculoskeletal Care
March 2025
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Objectives: Falls in older adults are a public health concern, yet little is known about falls in adults with hip or knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) who may be at a higher risk than the general population. The study objectives were to compare the number of fallers and fear of falling in TJA patients to age and sex matched community controls, and determine whether the type of risk factors for falls reported in TJA differed from the community group.
Methods: A cross sectional comparative study was conducted with patients waiting or recovering from TJA and age and sex matched comparison group of older adults residing in the community.
Is frailty associated with increased concerns about falling and activity restriction in community-dwelling older adults? A systematic review.
J Frailty Aging
February 2025
Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK. Electronic address:
Purpose: Concerns about falling (CaF) are common in older adults. They are associated with increased risk of falls, activity restriction, social isolation, and physical deconditioning. This systematic review assessed if frailty is a risk factor for CaF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!