Indoor and outdoor falls in older adults are different: the maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and Zest in the Elderly of Boston Study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
The MOBILIZE Boston Study, a study of falls etiology in community-dwelling older individuals.


METHODS
Seven hundred sixty-five women and men, mainly aged 70 and older, from randomly sampled households in the Boston, Massachusetts, area.


METHODS
Baseline data were collected by questionnaire and comprehensive clinic examination. During follow-up, participants recorded falls on daily calendars. The location and circumstances of each fall were asked during telephone interviews.


RESULTS
Five hundred ninety-eight indoor and 524 outdoor falls were reported over a median follow-up of 21.7 months. Risk factors for indoor falls included older age, being female, and various indicators of poor health. Risk factors for outdoor falls included younger age, being male, and being relatively physically active and healthy. For instance, the age- and sex-adjusted rate ratio for having much difficulty or inability to perform activities of daily living relative to no difficulty was 2.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.69-3.90) for indoor falls but 0.27 (95% CI = 0.13-0.56) for outdoor falls. The rate ratio for gait speed of less than 0.68 m/s relative to a speed of greater than 1.33 m/s was 1.48 (95% CI = 0.81-2.68) for indoor falls but 0.27 (95% CI = 0.15-0.50) for outdoor falls.


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls differ. Combining these falls, as is done in many studies, masks important information. Prevention recommendations for noninstitutionalized older people would probably be more effective if targeted differently for frail, inactive older people at high risk for indoor falls and relatively active, healthy people at high risk for outdoor falls.
Kelsey
Jennifer L
JL
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Berry
Sarah D
SD
Procter-Gray
Elizabeth
E
Quach
Lien
L
Nguyen
Uyen-Sa D T
US
Li
Wenjun
W
Kiel
Douglas P
DP
Lipsitz
Lewis A
LA
Hannan
Marian T
MT
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors