@article{ref1,
title="Effect of a multifactorial, interdisciplinary intervention on risk factors for falls and fall rate in frail older people: a randomised controlled trial",
journal="Age and ageing",
year="2013",
author="Langron, Colleen and Kurrle, Susan E. and Lord, Stephen R. and Sherrington, Catherine and Fairhall, Nicola and Lockwood, Keri and Monaghan, Noeline and Aggar, Christina and Cameron, Ian D.",
volume="43",
number="5",
pages="616-622",
abstract="BACKGROUND: frail older people have a high risk of falling.OBJECTIVE: assess the effect of a frailty intervention on risk factors for falls and fall rates in frail older people.Design: randomised controlled trial.Participants: 241 community-dwelling people aged 70+ without severe cognitive impairment who met the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty definition.Intervention: multifactorial, interdisciplinary intervention targeting frailty characteristics with an individualised home exercise programme prescribed in 10 home visits from a physiotherapist and interdisciplinary management of medical, psychological and social problems.Measurements: risk factors for falls were measured using the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) and mobility measures at 12 months by a blinded assessor. Falls were monitored with calendars.RESULTS: participants had a mean (SD) age of 83.3 (5.9) years, 68% were women and 216 (90%) completed the study. After 12 months the intervention group had significantly better performance than the control group, after controlling for baseline values, in the PPA components of quadriceps strength (between-group difference 1.84 kg, 95% CI 0.17-3.51, P = 0.03) and body sway (-90.63 mm, 95% CI -168.6 to -12.6, P = 0.02), short physical performance battery (1.58, 95% CI 1.02-2.14, P ≤ 0.001) and 4 m walk (0.06 m/s 95% CI 0.01-0.10, P = 0.02) with a trend toward a better total PPA score (-0.40, 95% CI -0.83-0.04, P = 0.07) but no difference in fall rates (incidence rate ratio 1.12, 95% CI 0.78-1.63, P = 0.53).CONCLUSION: the intervention improved performance on risk factors for falls but did not reduce the rate of falls.Trial registration: ACTRN12608000250336.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-0729",
doi="10.1093/ageing/aft204",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/aft204"
}