Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background ‘Mechanical’ or simple falls are those due to slips or trips, and in the absence of injury are often considered benign. Older people with ‘mechanical’ falls are often not referred for a comprehensive falls assessment. The aim of this study was to assess if ‘mechanical’ falls were a risk factor for future falls, falls-related injuries/fractures, and fear of falling. Methods Participants ≥65 years (n = 2,820, mean 73 years) from TILDA were included and followed from Waves 1–5 at 2-yearly intervals (8-year follow-up). ‘Mechanical’ falls were falls caused by a simple slip/trip as reported by participants. Incidence of future falls (total falls/unexplained/injurious) and fracture (hip/wrist/vertebral/other) was by self-report at each Wave. Logistic Regression models reporting odds ratios (OR) assessed the association between explained falls and future further falls/fracture and fear of falling, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results Over 15% (441/2,820) of participants reported ‘mechanical falls’ within the last year at Wave 1, and there was a high prevalence of established falls risk factors, e.g. polypharmacy (32%), heart disease (24%), among this cohort. ‘Mechanical’ falls were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of future injurious falls (OR 1.50 (1.21–1.870; p < 0.001)), unexplained falls (OR 1.27 (1.00–1.62); p 0.050), and fracture (OR 1.37 (1.06–1.76); p 0.015), in fully adjusted models. Reporting ≥2 ‘mechanical’ falls was independently associated with development of fear of falling (OR 1.96 (1.27–3.03); p = 0.002) and was more strongly associated with all future fall types than reporting a single ‘mechanical’ fall. Conclusion Older people with recent simple falls are significantly more likely to present with falls causing injury, unexplained falls, and fracture during follow-up. If simple falls are recurrent, they also have a higher likelihood of developing fear of falling. Comprehensive falls assessment, addressing established risk factors, should therefore be considered for older people with ‘mechanical’ falls, particularly if recurrent.
Source: Age and Ageing
Authors: B Keane, G McMahon, A Lavan, R Briggs
Institution: St. James's Hospital
Language: English
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4386731378