To better understand risk factors for falls among community‐dwelling elderly, we analyzed data from a sample of elderly Medicare beneficiaries interviewed in 1987 and a year later. Demographic, social, medical, and functional information were obtained by telephone interviews with 736 subjects (68 women) whose average age was 76.5 (range, 65–99). At baseline, 63 subjects reported a fall and 67 reported two or more stumbles without a fall in the past month. At the second interview follow‐up information on falls in the past year was obtained on 586 subjects. One hundred twenty‐seven (22) subjects reported one or more falls. Baseline risk factors that were independent predictors of a fall at the second interview included two or more stumbles (adjusted odds ratio AOR 2.3, 95 confidence interval CI, 1.2–4.5), one or more falls (AOR 5.9, 95 CI 2.9–12.2), having spent 4 or more days in bed in the past month (AOR 7.7, 95 CI 1.9–31.0), and self‐reported declining health status (AOR 2.0, 95 CI 1.1–3.5).Falls and stumbles are prevalent among community‐dwelling elderly. After controlling for covariates, we found subjects who reported two or more stumbles in the past month are at increased risk for a fall in
展开▼
