Fall Risk Trajectories in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Balasundaram Rohit Baal, Krenek-Schneider Brittany, Mendoza Edna Patricia, Patel Anup Dharmendrakumar, Quach Lien, Nguyen Uyen-Sa
Primary Institution: University of North Texas Health Science Center
Hypothesis
What are the fall trajectories and associated risk factors among adults aged 65 and older with no prior history of falls?
Conclusion
The study found distinct fall risk trajectories among older adults, influenced by race/ethnicity and comorbid conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults in the United States.
- Nearly half of the population remained in a low-stable risk group.
- Individuals identified as Black/African American or 'Other' race had a lower likelihood of being in the high-risk group compared to White/Caucasian individuals.
- Having comorbid conditions was associated with a higher likelihood of being in the high-risk group.
Takeaway
This study looked at how older people who haven't fallen before are at different risks of falling over time, depending on their health and background.
Methodology
The study used longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study and applied group-based trajectory modeling and multinomial logistic regression.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults aged 65 and older with no prior history of falls.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.27, 0.55; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.73
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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