Predictors for functional decline after an injurious fall: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND: The functional consequences of injurious falls are well known. However, studies of the factors that can modify trajectories of disability after an injury from a fall are scarce. AIMS: We aimed to investigate whether sociodemographic and health-related factors may impact this association. METHODS: The study population consisted of 1426 community-dwelling older adults (≥ 60 years) from the SNAC-K cohort study in Stockholm, Sweden. Functional status over 12 years of follow-up was assessed using the number of limitations in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Sex, cohabitation status, physical activity, and self-rated health were assessed at baseline. Injurious falls were defined as falls requiring healthcare and were assessed over 3 years starting at baseline. Data were analyzed using linear-mixed effects models. RESULTS: The fastest increase in the number of disabilities was observed in those who had endured an injurious fall and were living alone (β coefficient = 0.408; p < 0.001), been physically inactive (β coefficient = 0.587; p < 0.001), and had poor self-rated health (β coefficient = 0.514; p < 0.001). The negative impact of these factors was more pronounced among fallers compared to non-fallers. DISCUSSION: Living alone, being physically inactive, and having poor self-rated health magnifies the negative effect of an injurious fall on functional status. Among individuals who endure an injurious fall, the heterogeneity in long-term functional status is substantial, depending on the individuals’ characteristics and behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the need for a person-centered approach in care provision and can guide secondary prevention within health care. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s40520-020-01747-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.