Background The functional consequences of injurious falls are well known. However, studies of the factors that can modify trajectories of disability after an injury from a fall are scarce.

Aims We aimed to investigate whether sociodemographic and health-related factors may impact this association.

Methods The study population consisted of 1426 community-dwelling older adults (>= 60 years) from the SNAC-K cohort study in Stockholm, Sweden. Functional status over 12 years of follow-up was assessed using the number of limitations in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Sex, cohabitation status, physical activity, and self-rated health were assessed at baseline. Injurious falls were defined as falls requiring healthcare and were assessed over 3 years starting at baseline. Data were analyzed using linear-mixed effects models.

Results The fastest increase in the number of disabilities was observed in those who had endured an injurious fall and were living alone (beta coefficient = 0.408; p < 0.001), been physically inactive (beta coefficient = 0.587; p < 0.001), and had poor self-rated health (beta coefficient = 0.514; p < 0.001). The negative impact of these factors was more pronounced among fallers compared to non-fallers.

Discussion Living alone, being physically inactive, and having poor self-rated health magnifies the negative effect of an injurious fall on functional status. Among individuals who endure an injurious fall, the heterogeneity in long-term functional status is substantial, depending on the individuals' characteristics and behaviors.

Conclusions These findings emphasize the need for a person-centered approach in care provision and can guide secondary prevention within health care.

Background: The impact of falls on cognitive function is unclear. We explored whether injurious falls are associated with cognitive decline in older adults, and evaluated the role of changes in psychological and physical health as mediators of such association.

Methods: This prospective study involved 2267 community-dwelling participants in the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (≥60 years). Data on injurious falls (ie, falls requiring medical attention) during each 3-year time interval of follow-up were obtained from national registers. Assessment of cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination), depressive mood (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale), and physical performance (walking speed) were carried out every 3 or 6 years over a 12-year follow-up. The association between falls and cognition was estimated through linear mixed-effects models, and the mediating role of changes in depressive mood and physical performance was tested using mediation analysis.

Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals who experienced injurious falls had a greater annual decline in Mini-Mental State Examination in the subsequent time interval (β = −1.49, 95% CI: −1.84; −1.13), than those who did not. The association increased with the occurrence of ≥2 falls (β = −2.13, 95% CI: −2.70; −1.56). Worsening of walking speed and depressive mood explained around 26% and 8%, respectively, of the association between falls and cognitive decline.

Conclusions: Injurious falls are associated with greater cognitive decline, and this association is partly mediated by worsening of physical performance and, in a lesser extent, of depressive mood. These findings suggest that physical deficits and low mood are potential therapeutic targets for mitigating the association between falls and cognitive decline.

Objectives: Previous studies showed that peak expiratory flow (PEF) is associated with health-related outcomes in advanced age, but the extent to which it may be related to falls risk remains unclear. We aimed to detect the association between PEF and injurious falls in older adults and to explore the role of cognitive and physical deficits in this association.

Design: Prospective study with a 6-year follow-up.

Setting and Participants: The study involves 2234 community-dwelling older adults with no history of pulmonary disease.

Methods: For each study participant, we assessed the PEF at baseline, expressed as standardized residual (SR) percentile and derived from the normalization of residuals between the measured and predicted PEF values (based on individual age, sex, and body height); incident injurious falls over 6 years, from Hospital Discharge Diagnosis; and physical and cognitive functioning at the baseline and at 3- and 6-year followups by evaluating walking speed, balance, chair stand, and Mini-Mental State Examination, respectively.

Results: Over the follow-up, 232 individuals experienced injurious falls. Cox models indicated 7% higher risk of falls per each 10th reduction in PEF SR-percentile. The risk of injurious falls increased by more than twice for those who had PEF SR-percentile <10th as for values of 80th-100th (hazard ratio = 2.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.41-3.76). Physical deficits mediated 63% of the total effect of PEF on falls risk.

Conclusions and Implications: Our findings suggest that low PEF is associated with higher risk of injurious falls in older adults, and most of this association is explained by balance or muscular strength deficits.

Objectives

The First-time Injurious Fall (FIF) screening tool was created to identify fall risk in community-living older adults who may benefit from primary preventive interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive performance of the FIF tool in 2 cohorts of older adults.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting and Participants

The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Skåne (SNAC-S) and Blekinge (SNAC-B), Sweden. Community-living people aged ≥60 years (n = 2766).

Methods

Nurses and physicians collected data in the 2 cohorts through interviews and testing. Data on injurious falls were collected from register data and were defined as receipt of care after a fall. The FIF tool, consisting of 3 questions and 1 balance test, was examined in relation to injurious falls for up to 5 years of follow-up using Cox proportional hazards models. The predictive performance of the FIF tool was further explored using Harrell C statistic and Youden cut-off for sensitivity and specificity.

Results

The hazard ratios (HRs) of an injurious fall in the high-risk group for women and men were 3.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.53, 5.73) and 5.10 (95% CI 2.57, 10.12) in SNAC-S and 4.45 (95% CI 1.86, 10.61) and 32.58 (95% CI 4.30, 247.05) in SNAC-B compared with those in the low risk group. The sensitivity and specificity of the Youden cut-off point (3 or higher for high-risk) were 0.64 and 0.69 for women and 0.68 and 0.69 for men in SNAC-S, and 0.64 and 0.74 for women and 0.94 and 0.68 for men in SNAC-B. The predictive values (Harrell C statistic) for the scores for women and men were 0.73 and 0.74 in SNAC-S and 0.72 and 0.89 in SNAC-B.

Conclusions and Implications

Our results suggest that the FIF tool is a valid tool to use for prediction of first-time injurious falls in community-living older adults.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between nutritional status, defined on the basis of a multidimensional evaluation, and body mass index (BMI) with the risk of falls and recurrent falls in communitydwelling older people.

Design: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Setting and Participants: Community-dwelling older adults.

Measures: A systematic literature review was conducted on prospective studies identified through electronic and hand searches until October 2017. A random effects meta-analysis was used to evaluate the relative risk (RR) of experiencing falls and recurrent falls (>= 2 falls within at least 6 months) on the basis of nutritional status, defined by multidimensional scores. A random effects dose-response metaanalysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and the risk of falls and recurrent falls.

Results: People who were malnourished or those at risk for malnutrition had a pooled 45% higher risk of experiencing at least 1 fall than were those well-nourished (9510 subjects). Increased falls risk was observed in subjects malnourished versus well-nourished [RR 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.182.28; 3 studies, 8379 subjects], whereas no substantial results were observed for risk of recurrent falls. A U-shaped association was detected between BMI and the risk for falls (P <. 001), with the nadir between 24.5 and 30 (144,934 subjects). Taking a BMI of 23.5 as reference, the pooled RR of falling ranged between 1.09 (95% CI 1.04-1.15) for a BMI of 17, to 1.07 (95% CI 0.92-1.24) for a BMI of 37.5. No associations were observed between BMI and recurrent falls (120,185 subjects).

Conclusions/Implications: The results of our work suggest therefore that nutritional status and BMI should be evaluated when assessing the risk for falls in older age.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to create a screening tool to predict first-time injurious falls in community-living older men and women. Design: Longitudinal cohort study between 2001 and 2009. Setting: The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), Sweden. Participants: Community-living older adults (n = 2808; 1750 women and 1058 men) aged >= 60 years (mean age 73, standard deviation 10.3). Measurements: The outcome was injurious falls within 5 years from baseline survey. Data on the risk factors for falls were collected through interviews, clinical examinations, and tests at baseline. Several previously established fall risk factors were identified for the development of the screening tool. The tool was formulated based on the beta coefficients from sex-specific multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. The discriminative power was assessed using Harrell C statistic. Results: Old age, living alone, being dependent in instrumental activities of daily living, and impaired balance were the factors included in the final score of the First Injurious Fall (FIF) screening tool. The predictive values (Harrell C statistic) for the scores were 0.75 for women and 0.77 for men. The sensitivity and specificity at the Youden cut-off points were 0.69 and 0.70 for women, and 0.72 and 0.71 for men. Conclusions and Implications: The FIF screening tool for first injurious fall in older persons consists of 3 questions and a physical test (5-second 1-leg standing balance with eyes open). Quick and easy to administer, it could be ideal for use in primary care or public health to identify older men and women at high fall risk, who may benefit from primary preventive interventions.

OBJECTIVES: To identify sex-specific associations between risk factors and injurious falls over the short (<4 years) and long (4-10 years) term.

DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study between 2001 and 2011.

SETTING: Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, Kungsholmen, Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older (N = 3,112).

MEASUREMENTS: An injurious fall was defined as a fall that required inpatient or outpatient care. Information was collected on participant and exposure characteristics using structured interviews, clinical examinations, and physical function tests at baseline.

RESULTS: The multivariate model showed that, in the short term, living alone (hazard ratio (HR)=1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.13-2.96), dependency in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) (HR=2.59, 95% CI=1.73-3.87), and previous falls (HR=1.71, 95% CI=1.08-2.72) were independently associated with injurious falls in women. Low systolic blood pressure (HR=1.96, 95% CI=1.04-3.71), impaired chair stands (HR=3.00, 95% CI=1.52-5.93), and previous falls (HR=2.81, 95% CI=1.32-5.97) were associated with injurious falls in men. Long-term risk factors were underweight (HR=2.03, 95% CI=1.40-2.95), cognitive impairment (HR=1.49, 95% CI=1.08-2.06), fall-risk increasing drugs (HR=1.67, 95% CI=1.27-2.20 for >= 2 drugs), and IADL dependency (HR=1.58, 95% CI=1.32-5.97) for women and smoking (HR=1.71, 95% CI=1.03-2.84), heart disease (HR=2.20, 95% CI=1.5-3.24), impaired balance (HR=1.68, 95% CI=1.08-2.62), and a previous fall (HR=3.61, 95% CI=1.98-6.61) for men.

CONCLUSION: Men and women have different fall risk profiles, and these differences should be considered when developing preventive strategies. Some risk factors were more strongly predictive of injurious falls over shorter than longer periods and vice versa, suggesting that it may be possible to identify older men and women at short-and long-term risk of injurious falls.