Interventions to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

The USPSTF recommends exercise interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who are at increased risk for falls. (B recommendation) The USPSTF recommends that clinicians selectively offer multifactorial interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who are at increased risk for falls. Existing evidence indicates that the overall net benefit of routinely offering multifactorial interventions to prevent falls is small. When determining whether this service is appropriate for an individual, patients and clinicians should consider the balance of benefits and harms based on the circumstances of prior falls, presence of comorbid medical conditions, and the patient's values and preferences. (C recommendation) The USPSTF recommends against vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older. (D recommendation) These recommendations apply to community-dwelling adults who are not known to have osteoporosis or vitamin D deficiency.

Unintentional injuries: A profile of hospitalization and risk factors for in-hospital mortality in Beijing, China

“…Other than female predominance in the elderly population, postmenopausal biological changes of elderly women, such as osteoporosis [29,32] could explain the gender difference in UI hospitalizations following falls in the elderly because elderly women have higher chances of falling and increased possibilities of sustaining injuries that require admission after falling. Effective preventive interventions can reduce the prevalence of falls [33,34]; however, prevention of falls has not been given enough importance in China. Understand the underlying causes of falls in different sex and age groups is essential for future targeted actions toward health education, the improvement of living and working environments and intervention evaluation.…”

Evaluation of an ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation program - results of a matched cohort study based on claims data

“…The proportion for which this situation applies is not derivable from the available data. AGR was most likely to influence the risk of falls and fractures [15]. The proportion of AGR participants with fractures during the follow-up period of 1 year was clearly higher compared to the control group.…”

Avaliação da regulação sensorial do equilíbrio corporal e risco de queda de mulheres adultas e idosas fisicamente ativas

“…Uma possível explicação para o fato pode estar associada à prática do exercício físico, que se apresenta como fator protetor de quedas. 28,29 Em idade avançada, tanto o diâmetro das fibras musculares, como os níveis de força muscular diminuem, gerando fraqueza, diminuindo a velocidade de reação, o que, por conseguinte, potencializa o risco de quedas. O treinamento de musculação 2-3 vezes por semana é capaz, por exemplo, de aumentar ou manter os níveis de força tanto de indivíduos jovens, como de idosos.…”