Is Fear of Falling the Missing Link to Explain Racial Disparities in Fall Risk? Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Clinical Gerontologist
Tanvee SinghKali S Thomas

Abstract

Emerging research suggests Black older adults experience a 30% decreased risk for falls compared with their White U.S. counterparts, and this is mediated neither by physical performance nor activity. Fear of falling (FOF) is a significant risk factor for falls, yet we know little about how FOF varies by race/ethnicity. The purpose of this original research brief was to investigate the relationship between race/ethnicity and FOF among older adults. 4,981 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) who had not self-reported a fall in the past 12 months were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between race/ethnicity and fear of falling, controlling for sex, age, total annual income, and mobility assistance. FOF differed significantly across racial groups. Black, non-Hispanic older adults were less likely to have FOF (OR = .87, 95% CI = .71,1.07) compared with their White, non-Hispanic counterparts. In the fully adjusted model, this difference persisted and became stronger (adjusted OR = .75, 95%CI = .61, .93). The decreased risk for falls in Black older adults could be explained by lower FOF in this group. These findings should infor...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 14, 2018·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Joshua R EhrlichBrian C Stagg
Jul 8, 2020·Clinical Gerontologist·Karim GalloujMohamad El Haj
Dec 15, 2020·Clinical Gerontologist·Selena E WashingtonSusan L Stark

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