title: Predicting Value of Nine-Item Berg Balance Scale Among the Aged: A 3-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess the predicting value of the nine-item Berg Balance Scale (BBS-9) for falls among the community-dwelling aged.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants (N = 298) were divided according to BBS-9 (range: 0-36) into those scoring 0-32 sum points (risk group [RG]; n = 158) and those scoring 33-36 (non-risk group [non-RG]; n = 140). Falls were recorded by fall diaries, which subjects were asked to mail to the research assistants (RAs) monthly during the 12-month follow-up. The occurrences of falls requiring treatment were collected from the health center and hospital registers during the 12- and 36-month follow-ups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 12-month follow-up, 271 falls (171 in RG and 100 in non-RG) and 29 falls requiring treatment (22 in RG and 7 in non-RG) occurred. During 36 months, there were 98 falls that required treatment (72 in RG and 26 in non-RG). The incidence of falls was higher in RG compared with non-RG (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-2.01) during the 12-month follow-up (p < .001). Also, the incidence of falls requiring treatment was significantly higher in RG than in non-RG during 12 months (IRR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.20-6.59; p = .017) and 36 months (IRR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.63-4.01; p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BBS-9 with a cutoff score of 32/33 is an applicable tool for predicting risk of falls among the community-dwelling aged. Future studies are needed to assess the predicting value of BBS-9 among different age groups in the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku , Turku , Finland.|b Satakunta Central Hospital , Pori , Finland.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hohtari-Kivimäki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku , Turku , Finland.|c Härkätie Health Center , Lieto , Finland.|d Primary Health Care Unit , Hospital District of Southwest Finland and Satakunta , Turku , Pori , Finland.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.affiliation: e Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Clinical Medicine , University of Turku , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku , Turku , Finland.|f Department of Social Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivelä
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors