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 .
A classification tree for predicting recurrent falling in community-dwelling older persons.
OBJECTIVES To develop a classification tree for predicting the risk of recurrent falling in community-dwelling older persons using tree-structured survival analysis ( TSSA ) . DESIGN A prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING A community in the Netherl and s. PARTICIPANTS One thous and three hundred sixty-five community-dwelling older persons ( > /=65 ) from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ( LASA ) . MEASUREMENTS In 1995 , physical , cognitive , emotional , and social aspects of functioning were assessed . Subsequently , a prospect i ve fall follow-up , specifically on recurrent falls ( two falls within 6 months ) was conducted for 3 years . RESULTS The classification tree included 11 end groups differing in risk of recurrent falling based on a minimum of two and a maximum of six predictors . The first split in the tree involved two or more falls versus fewer than two falls in the year preceding the interview . Respondents with two or more falls in the year preceding the interview ( n=193 ) and with at least two functional limitations ( n=98 ) had a 75 % risk of becoming a recurrent faller , whereas respondents with fewer than two functional limitations were further divided into a group with regular dizziness ( n=11 , risk of 68 % ) and a group with no regular dizziness ( n=84 , risk of 30 % ) . In respondents with fewer than two falls in the year preceding the interview ( n=1,172 ) , the risk of becoming a recurrent faller varied between 9 % and 70 % . Predictors in this branch of the tree were low performance , low h and grip strength , alcohol use , pain , high level of education , and high level of physical activity . CONCLUSION This classification tree included 11 end groups differing in the risk of recurrent falling based on specific combinations of a maximum of six easily measurable predictors . The classification tree can identify subjects who are eligible for preventive measures in public health strategies
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 .