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The association between anxiety and falls: a meta-analysis
journal contribution
posted on 2017-09-01, 00:00 authored by David HallfordDavid Hallford, G Nicholson, K Sanders, M P McCabeObjectives: Falls occur frequently among older adults and can lead to a range of adverse and debilitating outcomes. Although symptoms of clinical anxiety have been implicated as risk factors for falls, there is no current consensus on the empirical association between anxiety and falls. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by conducting a quantitative, meta-analytic review of findings from previous studies. Method: A systematic literature search of bibliographic databases was conducted, yielding 18 studies that fit the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Results: A random-effects model of all 18 studies showed a significant overall odds ratio of 1.53 (95% CI 1.28-1.83, p < .001), indicating that elevated levels of anxiety were associated with a 53% increased likelihood of falls. A high amount of variance among effect sizes was observed. Only age was identified as a moderator of this relationship in a subgroup of the samples. Conclusions: Clinical anxiety is associated with falls, however, further research is required to elucidate the factors that might moderate or mediate this relationship, the casual pathways through which they are related, and the associations between different types of anxiety and falls.
History
Journal
Journals of gerontology: series BVolume
72Issue
5Pagination
729 - 741Publisher
Oxford University PressLocation
Oxford, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1079-5014eISSN
1758-5368Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2016, The AuthorUsage metrics
Categories
Keywords
AnxietyEpidemiologyFalls and mobility problemsFalls riskMeta-analysisReviewAccidental FallsAgedAged, 80 and overAnxiety DisordersCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleMaleMobility LimitationOdds RatioRisk FactorsStatistics as TopicScience & TechnologySocial SciencesLife Sciences & BiomedicineGeriatrics & GerontologyGerontologyPsychologyPsychology, MultidisciplinaryMetaanalysisOLDER-ADULTSMENTAL-HEALTHRISK-FACTORSPSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONSCOMMUNITYDISORDERSPEOPLEFEARPREVALENCEDEPRESSIONSociology
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