[Self-reported walking, balance testing and risk of fall among the elderly].
BACKGROUND
Falls represent an important health problem among the elderly. Balance testing as well as registration of self-reported balance problems may be appropriate in order to predict the risk of future falls.


METHODS
Self-reported walking was assessed in 307 randomly selected women 75 years or older living at home. The women underwent testing of gait and balance and were followed up for one year with respect to falls and fall-related injuries.


RESULTS
155 of the women fell during the observation period; 308 falls were reported. 13% of the falls resulted in a fracture. Factor analysis identified five anamnestic questions measuring the same latent construct. The sum score of this self-reported walking index correlated highly with simple balance tests. A poor result on the walking index indicated a high risk of falling (odds ratio (OR) 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.41-2.30) and of fall-related fractures (OR 2.65, 95 % CI 1.27-5.05) the subsequent year. The areas under the ROC curves (receiver-operating characteristics) were, however, only .57 for falls and .61 for fractures.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple questions give useful information on the risk of falls and fall-related fractures among elderly women.
Bergland
Astrid
A
Avdeling for helsefag, Høgskolen i Oslo, 0130 Oslo. astrid.bergland@hf.hio.no
Jarnlo
Gunn-Britt
GB
Wyller
Torgeir Bruun
TB
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology