BACKGROUND: Despite the role of primary care in the falls care pathway, there are almost no data on the extent of falls seen in general practices. AIM: To quantify the incidence and mortality of falls amongst older people in primary care in the UK. METHODS: Cohort study of people aged >or=60 years and registered in a UK practice contributing data to The Health Improvement Network primary care database (THIN) throughout 2003-06. Analysis of crude incidence and estimation of incidence rate ratios using negative binomial regression, and survival using Cox regression. Sensitivity analysis of criteria for distinguishing discrete fall events from follow-up appointments. RESULTS: Amongst people aged >or=60 years the overall crude incidence rate of recorded falls was 3.58/100 person-years (95% CI 3.56-3.61). The rate of recurrent falls was 0.67/100 person-years (95% CI 0.66-0.68). The incidence rate of recorded falls and recurrent falls was higher in older age groups, in women and least advantaged social groups. Incidence of recorded falls was constant through the time period 2003-06. Mortality for recurrent fallers was about twice that of general population controls. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that more than 475,000 fall events in older people are recorded in general practice each year in the UK, and are associated with increased mortality and relative deprivation. The underlying incidence rate has remained stable in recent years.
BACKGROUND: Despite the role of primary care in the falls care pathway, there are almost no data on the extent of falls seen in general practices. AIM: To quantify the incidence and mortality of falls amongst older people in primary care in the UK. METHODS: Cohort study of people aged >or=60 years and registered in a UK practice contributing data to The Health Improvement Network primary care database (THIN) throughout 2003-06. Analysis of crude incidence and estimation of incidence rate ratios using negative binomial regression, and survival using Cox regression. Sensitivity analysis of criteria for distinguishing discrete fall events from follow-up appointments. RESULTS: Amongst people aged >or=60 years the overall crude incidence rate of recorded falls was 3.58/100 person-years (95% CI 3.56-3.61). The rate of recurrent falls was 0.67/100 person-years (95% CI 0.66-0.68). The incidence rate of recorded falls and recurrent falls was higher in older age groups, in women and least advantaged social groups. Incidence of recorded falls was constant through the time period 2003-06. Mortality for recurrent fallers was about twice that of general population controls. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that more than 475,000 fall events in older people are recorded in general practice each year in the UK, and are associated with increased mortality and relative deprivation. The underlying incidence rate has remained stable in recent years.
Authors: Kathryn Richardson; George M Savva; Penelope J Boyd; Clare Aldus; Ian Maidment; Eduwin Pakpahan; Yoon K Loke; Antony Arthur; Nicholas Steel; Clive Ballard; Robert Howard; Chris Fox Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2021-01 Impact factor: 4.014
Authors: Y Schoon; M E Hoogsteen-Ossewaarde; A C Scheffer; F J M Van Rooij; M G M Olde Rikkert; S E De Rooij Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: J Amblàs-Novellas; S A Murray; J Espaulella; J C Martori; R Oller; M Martinez-Muñoz; N Molist; C Blay; X Gómez-Batiste Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-09-19 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Kathryn Richardson; Yoon K Loke; Chris Fox; Ian Maidment; Robert Howard; Nicholas Steel; Antony Arthur; Penelope J Boyd; Clare Aldus; Clive Ballard; George M Savva Journal: BMC Med Date: 2020-11-24 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: Yee Xing You; Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan; Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh; Nor Fadilah Rajab; Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin; Normah Che Din; Ai-Vyrn Chin; Michael Fenech; Mohd Zul Amin Kamaruddin; Suzana Shahar Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-22 Impact factor: 4.614