Recurrent Falls over Three Years among Older Adults Age 70+: Associations with Physical and Mental Health Status, Exercise, and Hospital Stay.

Choi NG, Marti CN, Choi BY, Kunik MM. Recurrent Falls over Three Years among Older Adults Age 70+: Associations with Physical and Mental Health Status, Exercise, and Hospital Stay. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society. 2023 May 1; 42(5):1089-1100.

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Abstract:

We used the 2019-2021 U.S. National Health and Aging Trend Study ( = 3,063, age 70+) and multinomial logistic regression and generalized linear models with Poisson and log link to identify correlates of (1) recurrent falls (2 + falls) over 3 years (2019-2021); and (2) any subsequent fall among those who had a fall in 2019. We also examined the associations between falls and hospitalization in 2021. Results show that those with recurrent falls had greater physical/functional and psychological health problems in 2019, while single fallers over the 3 years were not significantly different from those without a fall. Exercise was associated with a lower likelihood of a subsequent fall among those who fell in 2019. Both a single fall and recurrent falls over the 3 years were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization in 2021. Multifactorial fall preventions including exercise and depression/anxiety treatment are needed to mitigate recurrent fall risks.