Name: Factors Associated with Fear Of Falling in Older Irish Adults. F Brennan1, E Laird 2, C Hughes3, H McNulty3, M Ward3 JJ Strain3, AM Molloy2, C Cunningham1,4, K McCarroll1,4
Uploaded: 2021-11-12
Duration: 2 min 9 s
Description: Factors Associated with Fear Of Falling in Older Irish Adults. F Brennan1, E Laird 2, C Hughes3, H McNulty3, M Ward3 JJ Strain3, AM Molloy2, C Cunningham1,4, K McCarroll1,4.

Factors Associated with Fear Of Falling in Older Irish Adults. F Brennan1, E Laird 2, C Hughes3, H McNulty3, M Ward3 JJ Strain3, AM Molloy2, C Cunningham1,4, K McCarroll1,4. 

Scene 1

Factors Associated with  Fear Of Falling in Older Irish Adults. F Brennan1, E Laird 2, C Hughes3, H McNulty3, M Ward3 JJ Strain3, AM Molloy2, C Cunningham1,4, K McCarroll1,4

References. Lee A, Lee J, Lee G, Lee DR. Fear of Falling and Mortality among Older Adults in Korea: Analysis of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Korean J Fam Med. 2020 Jul;41(4):243-249. Donoghue OA, Setti A, O'Leary N, Kenny RA. Self-Reported Unsteadiness Predicts Fear of Falling, Activity Restriction, Falls, and Disability. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017 Jul 1;18(7):597-602.

Conclusion. We identified a high prevalence of fear of falling, though our study sample included frail older adults attending geriatric outpatient services. Those who fell in the last year and who were female were about twice as likely to fear falling while it was also more likely in those who were physically frailer, taking osteoporosis medications and reporting orthostatic symptoms. Notably those with a fear of falling were 70% more likely to be depressed and 16 times more likely to limit outside activities highlighting its negative impact.

Introduction. Fear  of falling is common in older adults and is associated with social isolation, reduced quality of life, depression and  increased  mortality(1)(2).   We aimed to investigate the factors associated with fear of falling in a cohort of older Irish  adults. Material and Methods. Study included adults aged 60 years or older attending outpatient services and recruited as part of the TUDA (Trinity Ulster, Department of Agriculture) study. Physical frailty was measured with the Timed Up and Go (TUG), cognition with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and depression with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Factors associated with fear of falling were explored in multinomial regression models.

Results. 5185 adults were identified, of whom 67.3% were female with a mean age of 74.0 (± 8.3yrs). Fear of falling varied by age: 39.4% amongst those aged 60-70, 51.2% in those aged 70-80yrs, and 70.4% in those greater than 80 years old. Independent positive predictors of fear of falling were age (beta 0.01, P=0.030), female gender (OR 2.6, CI 2.2 - 3.2, P<0.001),a fall in the previous year (OR 1.9, OR 1.6 -2.3, p<0.001), depression (CES-D ≥16) (OR 1.7, CI 1.3 -2.2, P<0.001), use of osteoporosis medications (OR 1.3, CI 1.1 -1.6, P=0.002), self reported dizziness on standing (OR 1.5, CI 1.3 -1.8, P<0.001), physical frailty (TUG >12 seconds, OR 1.30, CI 1.1-1.6, P=0.004) and limiting outside activities (OR 16.3,  CI 13.8 -19.3, P<0.001) .

Factors associated with fear of falling
emale gender (O
Age
2.6)
Use of osteoporosi
Orthostatic
medications (OR
symptoms (OR 1.5)
1.5)
Fall in the previo
year (OR 1.9)
Physical Frailty
(TUG>12) (OR 1.5)
epression (CES-
>15) (OR 1.7)
Limiting outdoor
activities OR 16.5)

Factors Associated with 
Fear Of Falling in Older Irish Adults.
F Brennan1, E Laird 2, C Hughes3, H McNulty3, M Ward3
JJ Strain3, AM Molloy2, C Cunningham1,4, K McCarroll1,4

Factors Associated with Fear Of Falling in Older Irish Adults. F Brennan1, E Laird 2, C Hughes3, H McNulty3, M Ward3 JJ Strain3, AM Molloy2, C Cunningham1,4, K McCarroll1,4

Scene 1 (0s)