TY - JOUR
T1 - The prevalence and correlates of fear of falling in elderly persons living in the community
AU - Arfken, C. L.
AU - Lach, H. W.
AU - Birge, S. J.
AU - Miller, J. P.
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - Objectives. Fear of falling has been recognized as a potentially debilitating consequence of falling in elderly persons. However, the prevalence and the correlates of this fear are unknown. Methods. Prevalence of fear of falling was calculated from the 1-year, follow-up of an age- and gender-stratified random sample of community-dwelling elderly persons. Cross- sectional associations of fear of falling with quality of life, frailty, and falling were assessed. Results. The prevalence of fear increased with age and was greater in women. After adjustment for age and gender, being moderately fearful of falling was associated with decreased satisfaction with life, increased frailty and depressed mood, and recent experience with falls. Being very fearful of falling was associated with all of the above plus decreased mobility and social activities. Conclusions. Fear of falling is common in elderly persons and is associated with decreased quality of life, increased frailty, and recent experience with falls.
AB - Objectives. Fear of falling has been recognized as a potentially debilitating consequence of falling in elderly persons. However, the prevalence and the correlates of this fear are unknown. Methods. Prevalence of fear of falling was calculated from the 1-year, follow-up of an age- and gender-stratified random sample of community-dwelling elderly persons. Cross- sectional associations of fear of falling with quality of life, frailty, and falling were assessed. Results. The prevalence of fear increased with age and was greater in women. After adjustment for age and gender, being moderately fearful of falling was associated with decreased satisfaction with life, increased frailty and depressed mood, and recent experience with falls. Being very fearful of falling was associated with all of the above plus decreased mobility and social activities. Conclusions. Fear of falling is common in elderly persons and is associated with decreased quality of life, increased frailty, and recent experience with falls.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028199686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.84.4.565
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.84.4.565
M3 - Article
C2 - 8154557
AN - SCOPUS:0028199686
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 84
SP - 565
EP - 570
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 4
ER -