Citation

Sekaran NK, Choi H, Hayward RA, Langa KM. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2013; 61(1): 96-100.

Affiliation

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jgs.12071

PMID

23311555

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether falling would be a marker for future difficulty with activities of daily (ADLs) that would vary according to fall frequency and associated injury. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative cohort of 2,020 community-living, functionally independent older adults aged 65 to 69 at baseline followed from 1998 to 2008. MEASUREMENTS: ADL difficulty. RESULTS: Experiencing one fall with injury (odds ratio (OR) = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.29-2.48), at least two falls without injury (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.80-3.09), or at least two falls with at least one injury (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 2.55-5.53) in the prior 2 years was independently associated with higher rates of ADL difficulty after adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical covariates. CONCLUSION: Falling is an important marker for future ADL difficulty in younger, functionally independent older adults. Individuals who fall frequently or report injury are at highest risk.

Language: en