TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - A prospective study on the variation in falling and fall risk among community-dwelling older citizens in 12 European countries
JO  - BMJ open
A1  - Franse, Carmen B.
A1  - Rietjens, Judith Ac
A1  - Burdorf, Alex
A1  - van Grieken, Amy
A1  - Korfage, Ida J.
A1  - van der Heide, Agnes
A1  - Mattace Raso, Francesco
A1  - van Beeck, Ed
A1  - Raat, Hein
SP  - e015827
EP  - e015827
VL  - 7
IS  - 6
N2  - OBJECTIVES: The rate of falling among older citizens appears to vary across different countries, but the underlying aspects causing this variation are unexplained. We aim to describe between-country variation in falling and explore whether intrinsic fall risk factors can explain possible variation. <br><br>DESIGN: Prospective study on data from the cross-national Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). SETTING: Twelve European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland). PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling persons aged ≥65 years (n=18 596). MEASUREMENTS: Socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education level and living situation) and intrinsic fall risk factors (less than good self-rated health (SRH), mobility limitations, limitations with activities of daily living (ADL), dizziness, impaired vision, depression and impaired cognition) were assessed in a baseline interview. Falling was assessed 2 years later by asking whether the participant had fallen within the 6 months prior to the follow-up interview. <br><br>RESULTS: There was significant between-country variation in the rate of falling (varying from 7.9% in Switzerland to 16.2% in the Czech Republic). The prevalence of intrinsic fall risk factors varied twofold to fourfold between countries. Associations between factors age ≥80 years, less than good SRH, mobility limitations, ADL limitations, dizziness and depression, and falling were different between countries (p<0.05). Between-country differences in falling largely persisted after adjusting for socio-demographic differences but strongly attenuated after adjusting for differences in intrinsic fall risk factors. <br><br>CONCLUSION: There is considerable variation in the rate of falling between European countries, which can largely be explained by between-country variation in the prevalence of intrinsic fall risk factors. There are also country-specific variations in the association between these intrinsic risk factors and falling. These findings emphasise the importance of addressing intrinsic fall risk in (inter)national fall-prevention strategies, while highlighting country-specific priorities.<br><br>© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2044-6055
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-015827
ID  - ref1
ER  -