Journal article
Falling, Health Status, and the Use of Health Services by Older Adults: A Prospective Study
Medical care, Vol.30(7), pp.587-597
07/01/1992
DOI: 10.1097/00005650-199207000-00002
PMID: 1614229
Abstract
In this study, data from the Longitudinal Study on Aging were used to prospectively assess the relationship between repetitive falling or falling only once in the year before baseline and changes in health status and the use of health services. Multiple and logistic regression were used to control for a variety of known covariates, in addition to the baseline values of the target outcomes. Repetitive falling was associated with decreased health status, measured by various activities of daily living and disability indices, at both 2- and 4-year follow-ups. One fall, however, was never associated with deteriorating health status. Similarly, repetitive falling was related to a decreased likelihood of visiting a physician (at the first follow-up, only), but to an increased likelihood of hospitalization, nursing home placement, and death (at both follow-ups). Falling just one time, however, was only associated with an increased likelihood of nursing home placement. Based on outcome trajectories, two subpopulations of repetitive fallers were identified. One subpopulation was consistent with the rapid deterioration hypothesized by the "spiral" response to falling, and includes about 35% of the repetitive fallers (i.e., those who die within 4 years of baseline). The other subpopulation was consistent with the initial decline and subsequent stabilization hypothesized by the "drop-stabilization" response.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Falling, Health Status, and the Use of Health Services by Older Adults: A Prospective Study
- Creators
- Fredric D. Wolinsky - Indiana UniversityRobert J. JohnsonJohn F. Fitzgerald - Department of Veterans Affairs
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Medical care, Vol.30(7), pp.587-597
- Publisher
- J. B. Lippincott-Raven Publishers
- DOI
- 10.1097/00005650-199207000-00002
- PMID
- 1614229
- ISSN
- 0025-7079
- eISSN
- 1537-1948
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/1992
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Record Identifier
- 9984363667202771
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