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Citation
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Ramulu PY, Mihailovic A, Jian-Yu E, Miller RB, West SK, Gitlin LN, Friedman DS. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Abstract
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PURPOSE: To evaluate whether home hazards and lighting levels are associated with higher fall rates in adults with varying degrees of visual field (VF) damage from glaucoma.
METHODS: Participants with diagnosed or suspected glaucoma provided three years of prospective falls data via monthly falls diaries. Fall locations were determined via post-fall phone questionnaire. Seven home areas were evaluated for hazards and lighting via an in-home assessment. The influence of hazards and lighting on fall rates in each home region were evaluated in multivariate models adjusting for relevant confounders including age, gender, comorbidity, and severity of visual field (VF) damage.
RESULTS: Mean baseline age for the 170 participants was 71.0 (7.6) years and 78 (46%) of participants were female. Fifty-nine participants experienced a total of 83 home falls, with the greatest number of falls occurring on the indoor stairs (n=24; 29%) and bedroom (n=17; 21%). Neither the number nor the percentage of hazardous items graded as hazardous was associated with the rate of falls (p>.26). Each 10-fold increase in room lighting was associated with 35% fewer falls in that home region (p=.02). The relation between lighting and the rate of falls did not differ with the degree of visual field damage (p>.3), and a lower fall rate was noted with better lighting even in participants with mild or no VF damage (Rate ratio=0.52 per 10-fold better lighting; p=0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Fewer home falls were found with better lighting, but not with fewer home hazards. Lighting improvements at home may reduce fall rates in older adults.
Language: en |