The Association Between Anxiety and Falls: A Meta-Analysis

The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
David John HallfordMarita P McCabe

Abstract

Falls occur frequently among older adults and can lead to a range of adverse and debilitating outcomes. Although symptoms of clinical anxiety have been implicated as risk factors for falls, there is no current consensus on the empirical association between anxiety and falls. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by conducting a quantitative, meta-analytic review of findings from previous studies. A systematic literature search of bibliographic databases was conducted, yielding 18 studies that fit the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model of all 18 studies showed a significant overall odds ratio of 1.53 (95% CI 1.28-1.83, p < .001), indicating that elevated levels of anxiety were associated with a 53% increased likelihood of falls. A high amount of variance among effect sizes was observed. Only age was identified as a moderator of this relationship in a subgroup of the samples. Clinical anxiety is associated with falls, however, further research is required to elucidate the factors that might moderate or mediate this relationship, the casual pathways through which they are related, and the associations between different types of anxiety and falls.

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Citations

Sep 27, 2018·Journal of Gerontological Nursing·Yunchuan Lucy ZhaoHeejung Kim
Jul 8, 2020·Clinical Gerontologist·Karim GalloujMohamad El Haj
Apr 5, 2019·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Brice CanadaAntonio Terracciano
Sep 6, 2018·Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine·Natalia Adamczewska, Samuel Robert Nyman
Jul 12, 2017·Menopause : the Journal of the North American Menopause Society·Fidel Hita-ContrerasRafael Lomas-Vega

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