Experimental Gerontology · Jan 16, 2017

Factors associated with fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults with and without diabetes mellitus: Findings from the Frailty in Brazilian Older People Study (FIBRA-BR)

By Moreira BS, Sampaio RF, Diz JB et al.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the associated factors with fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults with and without diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Data from the Frailty in Brazilian Older People Study (FIBRA-BR), involving 4449 individuals aged 65years or older (19.2% with diabetes), were analyzed. The potential factors associated with fear of falling included sociodemographic data, chronic diseases, health-related variables and functional capacity measures. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with fear of falling. RESULTS: Female gender, arthritis or rheumatism, negative health self-perception, frailty, lower Lawton Scale score and reduced gait speed were independently associated with fear of falling in both groups. Factors associated with fear of falling specific to non-diabetic older adults were depression, visual impairment, falls in the previous 12months, obesity, depressive symptoms, higher Katz Index score and decreased handgrip strength. Lower Mini-Mental State Examination score was an associated factor with fear of falling only in those with diabetes. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with fear of falling did differ between non-diabetic and diabetic older adults. Health care professionals should consider such differences when planning their therapeutic approaches for a successful management of fear of falling in these older populations.

doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2017.01.004Open accessPubMed 28104446Populations