Citation

Kamitani T, Yamamoto Y, Kurita N, Yamazaki S, Fukuma S, Otani K, Sekiguchi M, Onishi Y, Takegami M, Ono R, Konno S, Kikuchi S, Fukuhara S. J. Aging Health 2019; 31(1): 67-84.

Affiliation

Fukushima Medical University, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0898264317721825

PMID

28745130

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We examined the longitudinal association between the severity of fatigue and falls in community-dwelling older adults.

METHOD: Subjective fatigue was assessed using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) Vitality subscale and classified into four categories by quartile (mildest, mild, moderate, severe). The main outcome was the incidence of any falls during the 2-year follow-up period.

RESULTS: Of the 751 participants, 236 (31.4%) experienced falls during the 2-year period. In multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for possible confounding factors, the adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for mild, moderate, and severe categories (vs. mildest category) of 1.60 (0.94-2.75), 1.87 (1.12-3.11), and 2.15 (1.23-3.76), respectively ( p for trend =.007).

DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that the severity of fatigue is associated with the risk of subsequent falls for community-dwelling older adults even after adjustment for possible confounding factors.

Language: en

Keywords

fall; fatigue; older adults; population-based study