@article{ref1,
title="The health-related quality of life and cost implications of falls in elderly women",
journal="Osteoporosis international",
year="2009",
author="Iglesias, C. P. and Manca, A. and Torgerson, D. J.",
volume="20",
number="6",
pages="869-878",
abstract="Fractures and falls are serious cause of morbidity and cost to society. Our results suggest that the main burden to morbidity, measured as impact on health-related quality of life, is due to fear of falling rather than falls or their sequelae, such as fractures. INTRODUCTION: Fractures and falls are serious cause of morbidity and cost to society. We investigated the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with falls, fractures and fear of falling and falls and fractures cost. METHODS: Three datasets providing longitudinal data on fear of falling, HRQoL and a common set of baseline risk factors for fracture (smoking status, weight and age) were analysed. Multilevel random effects models were used to estimate the long-term impact on HRQoL associated with falls, fractures and fear of falling. Healthcare resource use primary data were collected to estimate falls and fractures cost. RESULTS: Older, low weight and smoking women reported lower HRQoL. The impact on HRQoL of a fracture was at least twice as large as that associated with falls. The largest negative effect on HRQoL was associated with self-reported fear of falling. The cost of falls was pound1088. Similarly, the cost of falls leading to a fracture was pound15,133, pound2,753, pound1,863, pound1,331 and pound3,498 for hip, wrist, arm, vertebral and other fractures, respectively. DISCUSSION: The main burden to morbidity is due to fear of falling. Interventions aimed at reducing fear of falling may produce larger gains in HRQoL. <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0937-941X",
doi="10.1007/s00198-008-0753-5",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0753-5"
}