Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Risk Factors for Falls, Fear of Falling, and Falls Efficacy in a Cohort of Middle-Aged African Americans

Elena M. Andresen; Fredric D. Wolinsky; J. Philip Miller; Margaret-Mary G. Wilson; Theodore K. Malmstrom; Douglas K. Miller

doi:10.1093/geront/46.2.249

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Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Risk Factors for Falls, Fear of Falling, and Falls Efficacy in a Cohort of Middle-Aged African Americans

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Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Risk Factors for Falls, Fear of Falling, and Falls Efficacy in a Cohort of Middle-Aged African Americans

Elena M. Andresen, Fredric D. Wolinsky, J. Philip Miller, Margaret-Mary G. Wilson, Theodore K. Malmstrom and Douglas K. Miller

The Gerontologist, Vol.46(2), pp.249-257

04/2006

DOI: 10.1093/geront/46.2.249

PMID: 16581889

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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to cross-sectionally and longitudinally identify risk factors for falls, fear of falling, and falls efficacy in late-middle-aged African Americans. Design and Methods: We performed in-home assessments on a probability sample of 998 African Americans and conducted two annual follow-up interviews. Multiple logistic regression modeled the associations with falls (any fall or injurious fall) during 2 years prior to the baseline interview, and baseline fear of falling and falls efficacy with 2-year prospective risks for falling and fear of falling. Results: The most consistent association for all outcomes was depressive symptoms. Age was associated with increased risk of prior and prospective falls. Lower-body functional limitations were associated with prior falls, baseline fear of falling, and low falls efficacy, whereas low ability with one-leg stands prospectively predicted fear of falling. The greatest prospective risk for incident falls was having had a prior fall (odds ratio = 2.51), and the greatest prospective risk for fear of falling was having been afraid of falling at baseline (odds ratio = 8.14). Implications: Falls, fear of falling, and low falls efficacy are important issues for late-middle-aged as well as older persons. Interventions should focus on younger adults and attend especially to lower-body function and depressive symptoms as well as building self-efficacy for safe exercise, dealing with falls risks, and managing falls themselves.

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Risk Factors for Falls, Fear of Falling, and Falls Efficacy in a Cohort of Middle-Aged African Americans
Creators: Elena M. Andresen - Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center, Research Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA. eandresen@phhp.ufl.edu
Fredric D. Wolinsky - University of Iowa
J. Philip Miller
Margaret-Mary G. Wilson
Theodore K. Malmstrom - Saint Louis University
Douglas K. Miller
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Gerontologist, Vol.46(2), pp.249-257
DOI: 10.1093/geront/46.2.249
PMID: 16581889
NLM abbreviation: Gerontologist
ISSN: 0016-9013
eISSN: 1758-5341
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Language: English
Date published: 04/2006
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy
Record Identifier: 9984363611802771

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