Patterns and predictors of falls and their consequences in extreme old age
type: CreativeWork
description: $\textbf{BACKGROUND AND AIMS}$ Falls in old age can have serious consequences. The impact on health and social care is growing as the older population increases, but there are few data on falling amongst the “oldest old”. This study aimed to provide much needed information on this fastest growing section of the population: the epidemiology of falls and their consequences, the prevalence of potential risk factors and their predictive value in extreme old age. $\textbf{METHODS}$ This study added a special investigation of falling in advanced old age to the 2002–2003 interviews of 110 over-90-year-olds from the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort, a population-based longitudinal study of ageing. The survey (90 women, 20 men) comprised a standardised nurse-administered questionnaire with cognitive assessment, quantitative heel ultrasound scans and functional performance measures: Timed Unsupported Stand, Short Physical Performance Battery (standing balance tests, gait speed and chair rising),180° turn, functional reach and hand grip strength. Data collection also included a year’s prospective monitoring of falls using a combination of weekly calendars and telephone follow-up, with reports from participants themselves and proxy informants. $\textbf{KEY FINDINGS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS}$ The study’s description of a representative population aged over 90 is valuable to service planners preparing for demographic change, revealing high levels of many fall risk factors. Detailed characterisation of functional status showed close agreement between reported disability levels and performance measures. This first population-based survey of skeletal fragility in the tenth decade found quantitative ultrasound measures markedly lower than in previous studies with younger old people. Skeletal fragility reflected weight-bearing functional test performance and reported current or past mobility. This first prospective study of falling amongst people aged over 90 in a representative populatio…
abstract: $\textbf{BACKGROUND AND AIMS}$ Falls in old age can have serious consequences. The impact on health and social care is growing as the older population increases, but there are few data on falling amongst the “oldest old”. This study aimed to provide much needed information on this fastest growing section of the population: the epidemiology of falls and their consequences, the prevalence of potential risk factors and their predictive value in extreme old age. $\textbf{METHODS}$ This study added a special investigation of falling in advanced old age to the 2002–2003 interviews of 110 over-90-year-olds from the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort, a population-based longitudinal study of ageing. The survey (90 women, 20 men) comprised a standardised nurse-administered questionnaire with cognitive assessment, quantitative heel ultrasound scans and functional performance measures: Timed Unsupported Stand, Short Physical Performance Battery (standing balance tests, gait speed and chair rising),180° turn, functional reach and hand grip strength. Data collection also included a year’s prospective monitoring of falls using a combination of weekly calendars and telephone follow-up, with reports from participants themselves and proxy informants. $\textbf{KEY FINDINGS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS}$ The study’s description of a representative population aged over 90 is valuable to service planners preparing for demographic change, revealing high levels of many fall risk factors. Detailed characterisation of functional status showed close agreement between reported disability levels and performance measures. This first population-based survey of skeletal fragility in the tenth decade found quantitative ultrasound measures markedly lower than in previous studies with younger old people. Skeletal fragility reflected weight-bearing functional test performance and reported current or past mobility. This first prospective study of falling amongst people aged over 90 in a representative populatio…
author: Fleming, Jane
language: en
license: https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/6447cc39-775f-471d-b3c1-493bbfa332ee/download
license: https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
date published: 2007-02-13
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:13Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.8420