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Fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults: A cause of falls, a consequence, or both?

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  • Ana Lavedán
  • Maria Viladrosa
  • Pilar Jürschik
  • Teresa Botigué
  • Carmen Nuín
  • Olga Masot
  • Raquel Lavedán

Abstract

Background: Despite the number of studies that have tried to demonstrate that there is an association between previous falls and the fear of falling, the relationship between these two variables remains a matter of controversy. Objectives: Our objective was to investigate whether the fear of falling is a cause of falls, a consequence, or both in community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 75 years old. Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study was performed. A total of 640 individuals were interviewed between 2009 and 2011. Sociodemographic data, health status, history of falls and fear of falling were assessed at baseline and at 24 months. Results: The prevalence of falls at baseline was 25% as opposed to 35.2% at 24 months. The prevalence of the fear of falling was 41.5% at baseline. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between a history of falls and the fear of falling. Other factors associated with the fear of falling were female gender, comorbidity, depressive symptoms, and disability. In total, 41.7% of the subjects who had reported a fear of falling at baseline had suffered at least one fall 24 months later. Unadjusted Cox regression analysis revealed that the fear of falling was a risk factor for falls. According to the final model adjusted for other covariates, the only reliable predictor was female gender. The Cox model stratified by gender failed to show a crude association between fear of falling and falls. Conclusion: A previous history of falls in the previous year was a good predictor of the fear of falling; but the fear of falling was a predictor of falls during follow-up only in the unadjusted model, pointing to strong gender turns out as an effect modifier of the association of FOF and subsequent falls. Nursing staff working in elderly care should not only routinely assess patients’ previous history of falls, but also evaluate their fear of falling and its associated factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Lavedán & Maria Viladrosa & Pilar Jürschik & Teresa Botigué & Carmen Nuín & Olga Masot & Raquel Lavedán, 2018. "Fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults: A cause of falls, a consequence, or both?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0194967
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194967
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Justina YW Liu, 2015. "Fear of falling in robust community‐dwelling older people: results of a cross‐sectional study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(3-4), pages 393-405, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Orihuela-Espejo & Francisco Álvarez-Salvago & Antonio Martínez-Amat & Carmen Boquete-Pumar & Manuel De Diego-Moreno & Manuel García-Sillero & Agustín Aibar-Almazán & José Daniel Jiménez-García, 2022. "Associations between Muscle Strength, Physical Performance and Cognitive Impairment with Fear of Falling among Older Adults Aged ≥ 60 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Antony G. Philippe & Aurélie Goncalves & Christophe Martinez & Maxime Deshayes & Elodie Charbonnier, 2022. "Can an Eight-Session Multicomponent Physical Exercise Program Reduce Fall Risk and Fear of Falling among the Elderly?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-8, July.
    3. Eva M. Melendo-Azuela & Julia González-Vaca & Eva Cirera, 2022. "Fear of Falling in Older Adults Treated at a Geriatric Day Hospital: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.
    4. María Alzar-Teruel & Fidel Hita-Contreras & Antonio Martínez-Amat & María Leyre Lavilla-Lerma & Raquel Fábrega-Cuadros & José Daniel Jiménez-García & Agustín Aibar-Almazán, 2021. "SARC-F and the Risk of Falling in Middle-Aged and Older Community-Dwelling Postmenopausal Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, November.

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