TY - JOUR
T1 - Falls and social isolation of older adults in the national health and aging trends study
AU - Pohl, Janet S.
AU - Cochrane, Barbara B.
AU - Schepp, Karen G.
AU - Woods, Nancy F.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors havedisclosed no potential conflicts of interest,financial or otherwise.This work was supported bythe Myrene C.McAninch Doctoral Scholarship, de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging, University of Washington School of Nursing. Address correspondence to Janet S. Pohl, PhD, RN, PhD Graduate, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Box 357262, Seattle, WA 98195; e-mail: janpohl@uw.edu. Received: September 12, 2017; Accepted: December 4, 2017 doi:10.3928/19404921-20180216-02
Publisher Copyright:
© SLACK Incorporated.
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - A longitudinal secondary analysis of 2 years of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study was undertaken to determine the extent to which social isolation predicts falls in older adults. Social isolation during Year 1 (baseline) was operationalized as a multiple-indicator measure based on Social Network Index participation domains. Falling during the previous year was self-reported using Year 2 data. Logistic regression models revealed social isolation significantly predicted falls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.05, 1.17]). The relationship remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and education (OR = 1.08; 95% CI [1.02, 1.14]). The relationship weakened after adjusting for self-reported general health, depression risk, and worry about falling (OR = 1.02; 95% CI [0.96, 1.08]). Adjusting for Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), assistive mobility device, and activities of daily living further weakened the relationship (OR = 0.99; 95% CI [0.94, 1.04]). SPPB demonstrated the strongest correlation with social isolation (r = -0.42; p < 0.01). Fall prevention intervention studies specifically targeting social isolation may incorporate physical performance as a shorter-term and cost-eff ective proxy outcome for falls.
AB - A longitudinal secondary analysis of 2 years of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study was undertaken to determine the extent to which social isolation predicts falls in older adults. Social isolation during Year 1 (baseline) was operationalized as a multiple-indicator measure based on Social Network Index participation domains. Falling during the previous year was self-reported using Year 2 data. Logistic regression models revealed social isolation significantly predicted falls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.05, 1.17]). The relationship remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and education (OR = 1.08; 95% CI [1.02, 1.14]). The relationship weakened after adjusting for self-reported general health, depression risk, and worry about falling (OR = 1.02; 95% CI [0.96, 1.08]). Adjusting for Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), assistive mobility device, and activities of daily living further weakened the relationship (OR = 0.99; 95% CI [0.94, 1.04]). SPPB demonstrated the strongest correlation with social isolation (r = -0.42; p < 0.01). Fall prevention intervention studies specifically targeting social isolation may incorporate physical performance as a shorter-term and cost-eff ective proxy outcome for falls.
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U2 - 10.3928/19404921-20180216-02
DO - 10.3928/19404921-20180216-02
M3 - Article
C2 - 29498749
AN - SCOPUS:85044392761
SN - 1940-4921
VL - 11
SP - 61
EP - 70
JO - Research in Gerontological Nursing
JF - Research in Gerontological Nursing
IS - 2
ER -