Symptom Burden and Falls in Older Cancer Survivors
Author Information
Author(s): Bae Myeongjin, Patel Kushang, Gell Nancy
Primary Institution: University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States
Hypothesis
Older adults with a cancer history are at greater risk of falls due to persistent activity-limiting symptoms.
Conclusion
The study found that older cancer survivors with pain, fatigue, and sleep difficulty have a significantly higher risk of recurrent falls.
Supporting Evidence
- Older cancer survivors with pain had a 1.80 times higher risk of recurrent falls.
- Those with fatigue had a 2.10 times higher risk of recurrent falls.
- Older adults with sleep difficulty had a 1.66 times higher risk of recurrent falls.
- The risk of recurrent falls was 4.58 times higher for those with all three symptoms.
Takeaway
Older people who have had cancer and feel pain, tired, or have trouble sleeping are more likely to fall down.
Methodology
Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study Rounds 1-5 (2011-2015) were analyzed, focusing on community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with a history of cancer.
Participant Demographics
Community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with a history of cancer.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
1.31–2.48, 1.61–2.75, 1.25–2.20, 2.82–7.42
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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