Fall-related efficacy is a useful and independent index to detect fall risk in Japanese community-dwelling older people: a 1-year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Fall-related efficacy has been found to be associated with both falls and fall risk factors such as physical performance. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether fall-related efficacy is, independent of physical performance and other potential risk factors, associated with future falls in community-dwelling older people. METHODS: The study participants were 237 Japanese older people aged 65 years and over who were living independently in their community. Fall-related efficacy and physical performance were assessed at baseline using the short version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (short FES-I) and 5-m walking time, the Timed Up and Go Test, the 5 Times Sit to Stand Test, and grip strength. Physical performance was then again assessed at 1-year follow-up. The number of falls was obtained every 6 months for 1 year after the baseline survey. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), depression, fall history, current medications, medical history, and pain were also investigated as potential confounding factors that have possible associations with falls. The associations between the short FES-I, physical performance, and number of falls were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis adjusted for physical performance and potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants (75.9% women) was 71.1 ± 4.6 years, and 92.8% could perform IADL independently. The total numbers of falls and fallers during the 1-year follow-up period were 70 and 42, respectively. On Poisson regression analysis adjusted for walking time and potential confounding factors, independent of physical performance, the short FES-I was found to be significantly associated with number of falls (relative risk = 1.09, p < 0.05). On the other hand, physical performance was not significantly associated with the number of falls. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest that the short FES-I, independent of physical performance and other potential risk factors, is a useful index to detect fall risk in community-dwelling older people, and that fall-related efficacy is an important factor in terms of fall prevention.