ORs were generally higher for recurrent fallers than for all fallers .
This meta- analysis provides comprehensive evidence -based assessment of risk factors for falls in older people , confirming their multifactorial etiology .
Some nonspecific indicators of high baseline risk were also strong predictors of the risk of falling
BACKGROUND Falls are the main cause of accidental death in persons aged 65 years or older .
Predictors for falls and fractures in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.
The objective of this study was to identify easily measurable predictors for falls , recurrent falls , and fractures using a population -based prospect i ve cohort study of 1469 elderly , born before 1931 , in three regions of the Netherl and s. The baseline at-home interview was in 1992 . In 1995 , falls experienced in the preceding year and fractures over the preceding 38-month period were registered . In a period of 1 year , 32 % of the participants fell at least once , and 15 % fell two or more times . The rate of recurrent falls was similar in men and women up until the age of 75 years . The  total number of fractures was 85 , including 23 wrist fractures , 12 hip fractures , and 9 humerus fractures . The incidence density per 1000 person-years for any fracture was 25.1 ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 18.9 - 31.4 ) for women and 8.2 ( 95 % CI , 4.5 - 12.0 ) for men , respectively . Multiple logistic regression identified urinary incontinence , impaired mobility , use of analgetics , and use of antiepileptic drugs as the predictors most strongly associated with recurrent falls . Female gender , living alone , past fractures , inactivity , body height , and use of analgetics proved to be the predictors most strongly associated with fractures . The probabilities of recurrent falls were 4.7 % ( 95 % CI , 2.9 - 7.5 % ) to 59 . 2 % ( 95 % CI , 24.1 - 86.9 % ) with zero to four predictors , respectively . The probability of fractures ranged from 0.0 % ( 95 % CI , 0.0 - 0.4 % ) without any of the identified predictors to 12.9 % ( 95 % CI , 4.4 - 32 . 2 % ) with all six predictors present . Our study shows that the risk of recurrent falls and of fractures can be predicted using up to , respectively , four and six easily measurable predictors . This study emphasizes the importance of impaired mobility and inactivity as predictors for falls and fractures
ORs were generally higher for recurrent fallers than for all fallers .
This meta- analysis provides comprehensive evidence -based assessment of risk factors for falls in older people , confirming their multifactorial etiology .
Some nonspecific indicators of high baseline risk were also strong predictors of the risk of falling
BACKGROUND Falls are the main cause of accidental death in persons aged 65 years or older .