title: Functional limitations as potential mediators of the effects of self-reported vision status on fall risk of older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether limitations in mobility and large-muscle functioning mediate self-reported vision status to increase fall risk among respondents age 65 and above.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used two waves from the Health and Retirement Study. We conducted binary logistic and negative binomial regression analyses to test indirect paths leading from self-reported vision status to falls, via indices of mobility and large-muscle functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Limited evidence was found for a mediating effect among women; however, large-muscle groups were implicated as partially mediating risk factors for falls among men with fair self-reported vision status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications of these findings are discussed including the need for prioritizing improved muscle strength of older men and women with poor vision as a preventive measure against falls.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA bernard.steinman@umb.edu.
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.affiliation: Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pynoos
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: falls prevention; functional impairment; self-reported vision