Citation

Assi S, Garcia Morales EE, Du EY, Martinez-Amezcua P, Reed NS. J. Aging Health 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/08982643231190983

PMID

37505080

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if dual sensory impairment (DSI) is associated with falls and fear of falling among older adults.

METHODS: Using data from the 2019 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), we studied the cross-sectional association of self-reported hearing/vision impairment with self-reported history/number of falls over the past year, fear of falling (scale 1-6), and a fall requiring medical help using weighted multivariable regressions adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates.

RESULTS: Among 11,089 Medicare beneficiaries (mean age = 74, 55% female, 9% Black), DSI is associated with increased prevalence (prevalence ratio = 1.45 [1.28-1.65]) and incidence (incidence ratio = 2.21 [1.79-2.75]) rate of falls, and greater odds of a higher fear of falling score (odds ratio = 1.38 [1.08-1.77]).

DISCUSSION: DSI is associated with falls among older adults. Consideration of DSI as a marker to initiate fall prevention programs and inclusion of sensory interventions in these programs may be valuable.

Language: en

Keywords

older adults; falls; sensory impairment; hearing loss