Falls and Social Isolation of Older Adults in the National Health and Aging Trends Study

A longitudinal secondary analysis of 2 years of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study was undertaken to determine the extent to which social isolation predicts falls in older adults. Social isolation during Year 1 (baseline) was operationalized as a multiple-indicator measure based on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research in gerontological nursing 2018-03, Vol.11 (2), p.1-70
Main Authors: Pohl, Janet S, Cochrane, Barbara B, Schepp, Karen G, Woods, Nancy F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of daily living
Age
Aging
Disease prevention
Ethnicity
Falls
Geriatrics
Health care expenditures
Nursing
Nursing homes
Older people
Participation
Social isolation
Trends
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Summary:A longitudinal secondary analysis of 2 years of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study was undertaken to determine the extent to which social isolation predicts falls in older adults. Social isolation during Year 1 (baseline) was operationalized as a multiple-indicator measure based on Social Network Index participation domains. Falling during the previous year was self-reported using Year 2 data. Logistic regression models revealed social isolation significantly predicted falls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.05, 1.17]). The relationship remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and education (OR = 1.08; 95% CI [1.02, 1.14]). The relationship weakened after adjusting for self-reported general health, depression risk, and worry about falling (OR = 1.02; 95% CI [0.96, 1.08]). Adjusting for Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), assistive mobility device, and activities of daily living further weakened the relationship (OR = 0.99; 95% CI [0.94, 1.04]). SPPB demonstrated the strongest correlation with social isolation (r = -0.42; p < 0.01). Fall prevention intervention studies specifically targeting social isolation may incorporate physical performance as a shorter-term and cost-effective proxy outcome for falls. [Res Gerontol Nurs. xxxx; xx(x):xx-xx.].
ISSN:1940-4921
1938-2464
DOI:10.3928/19404921-20180216-02