The association between one-year fall history and quality of life among older adults in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study: does fall frequency matter?

Abstract Purpose Older adults are at increased risk of falls, which can substantially impact their quality of life (QoL). While few global studies have explored this association, comprehensive research in Australia remains limited. This study aimed to assess the association between a one-year fall history and QoL domains and compare QoL between single and recurrent fallers in older Australians. Methods Participants (n = 530, age ≥ 65 yr) were drawn from the 15-year assessment wave of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), a 26-item questionnaire covering four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental health. Falls within the previous 12 months were self-reported. Tobit regression was used to analyse associations between falls and QoL. Post-estimation linear combination tests were used to assess whether the associations differed between single and recurrent falls. Results The participants had a mean age of 75.4 ± 7.2 years, and 266 (50.2%) were male. Recurrent falls were associated with all domains: physical (β = −5.94, 95% CI −10.8, −1.22), psychological (β = −7.92, 95% CI −13.7, −2.12), social (β = −10.7, 95% CI −18.4, −3.02), and environmental (β = −5.79, 95% CI −11.3, −0.32). Single falls were mainly associated with physical (β = −2.90, 95% CI −5.48, −0.32) and psychological (β = −3.20, 95% CI −5.59, −0.80) domains. Linear combination tests showed differences only in social and environmental domains. Conclusions Recurrent falls are strongly associated with reduced QoL across all domains. Preventive strategies should prioritise older adults with recurrent falls to improve overall well-being and living conditions.<p></p>