Home Hazards With Fear of Falling: Findings From the Baseline Study of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR)

Fear of falling and associated factors among older adults in Southeast Asia: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the prevalence, measurement scales, related factors and interventions for fear of falling (FOF) among older adults in Southeast Asia.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a systematic review.

METHODS

Published research studies on FOF among older adults were searched using the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ASEAN Citation Index, Thai Journal Citation Index, Malaysian Journal Citation Report and Google Scholar. All observational and experimental studies investigating FOF among community-dwelling older adults in Southeast Asia were eligible. A narrative synthesis was used to describe the findings. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess the quality and risk of bias of the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 15 observational studies and three experimental studies were included after screening 2112 titles and abstracts. These studies, published between 2011 and 2021, were conducted in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The FOF prevalence ranged from 21.6% to 88.2%. The most commonly used FOF assessment tool was the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Well-reported related factors of FOF were female sex, advanced age, balance impairment and fall history. All experimental studies utilising single- or multi-component interventions comprised an exercise approach. Limited studies have considered environmental factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Various related factors of FOF and the interventions implemented were revealed. Public health researchers and policymakers should consider the factors related to FOF in practical FOF intervention and prevention strategies. Further evidence on FOF issues is required to understand the multidimensional characteristics of FOF, specifically the environmental aspects of older adults in Southeast Asia.

Fear of Falling and Environmental Factors: A Scoping Review

Fear of falling is a geriatric condition that must be understood from both a clinical perspective and from the environment in which older adults live. This review aimed to describe the scientific evidence reported in the last 5 years regarding the fear of falling in older adults and its relationship with environmental factors. The relationships between fear of falling and environmental factors are mainly evidenced in the built environment. Older adults with a fear of falling are described as perceiving the built environment as dangerous when they do not meet the requirements of safety, accessibility, and comfort; they also report the importance of living in communities with controlled crime levels and available social support for older adults to improve their insecurity and feelings of vulnerability.

Prevalence of Fear of Falling and Its Association With Physical Function and Fall History Among Senior Citizens Living in Rural Areas of China

Background: Fear of falling (FOF) is as significant as a fall, leading to limited physical activity and poor quality of life among senior citizens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of FOF and its association with physical function and fall history among the senior citizens (≥75 years old) living in rural areas of China. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in eastern China from June to October 2019. All elderly participants were recruited during their attendance for the free health examinations in villages and towns organized by the local healthcare authorities. Data on sociodemographics, fall history, FOF conditions, self-reported comorbidity and regular medications were collected by face-to-face interview, and the physical function status was evaluated through a field test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the differences in physical function and fall history of senior citizens with/without FOF. Results: A total of 753 senior citizens (mean age = 79.04) participated in this study. Of these, 63.5% were aged 75-80. FOF was reported in 22.8% of the participants, while 18.5% had a fall in the past year. Among the senior citizens with and without a fall history, the prevalences of FOF were 38.8 and 19.2%, respectively. On multivariate analyses, FOF was independently associated with the Time Up and Go Test (TUG) duration (OR = 1.080; 95% CI: 1.034-1.128), 4-Stage Balance Test score (OR = 0.746; 95% CI: 0.597-0.931), fall history (OR = 2.633; 95% CI: 1.742-3.980), cerebral apoplexy (OR = 2.478; 95% CI: 1.276-4.813) and comorbidities (≥2) (OR = 1.637; 95% CI: 1.066-2.514), while the correlation between FOF and the 30-s chair stand test was only statistically significant in univariate analysis (Z = -3.528, p < 0.001). Conclusion: High prevalence of FOF is observed among the senior citizens living in rural areas of China. FOF is strongly correlated with physical function performance and fall history. Therefore, the implementation of targeted FOF prevention measures is key to improve the physical activity of the senior citizens, which would ultimately lead to fall prevention and improved quality of life.

Association between a hilly neighborhood environment and falls among rural older adults: a cross-sectional study

Objective: Falls in older adults are a major public health issue, and it is unclear whether the neighborhood environment is associated with falls among this group. This cross-sectional study investigated whether hilly neighborhood environmental factors were associated with fall status (falls or fear of falling) in rural Japanese older adults.

Materials and Methods: Data obtained from 965 participants aged 65 years and older living in Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, in 2017 were analyzed. Fall status was assessed based on the 1-year fall incidence (yes/no) for the past year and fear of falling (yes/no) using a self-report questionnaire. For hilly neighborhood environmental factors, the mean elevation and land slope were assessed using a geographic information system. The logistic regression model examined the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of fall status in quartiles for elevation and land slope, respectively, and was adjusted for confounders.

Results: Falls and fear of falling were observed in 16.8% and 43.2% of participants, respectively. Falls were associated with elevation (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.17–3.37 for Q2 vs. Q1; OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.19–3.44 for Q3 vs. Q1) and land slope (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.04–2.93 for Q3 vs. Q1; OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.04–2.93 for Q4 vs. Q1). Fear of falling was associated with elevation (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.19–2.65 for Q3 vs. Q1) and land slope (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.01–2.25 for Q4 vs. Q1).

Conclusion: Our study found that elevation and land slope as hilly neighborhood environment factors were positively associated with falls or fear of falling among older adults living in rural Japan. Prospective observational studies that investigate the effects of region-specific environmental factors on falls among older adults should be conducted.