DENVER – Falling, or even being at risk for falling, has a negative impact upon quality of life in the elderly that is more profound than many serious comorbid conditions including diabetes, arthritis, respiratory disorders, and heart disease.
This was a key finding in a large survey of seniors covered by an American Association of Retired Persons Medicare Supplement Insurance plan, or Medigap, Kevin Hawkins, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association.
The survey was offered to 15,000 AARP Medigap beneficiaries, 41% of whom responded. Of respondents, 21% reported a fall within the past 12 months. Another 17% were deemed at increased risk for falls based on classic risk factors, including age 85 years or older or balance or walking problems.
These rates of falling and being at risk for falls are lower than the rates previously reported in the overall Medicare population. In the 2008 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey, for example, one-third of older adults reported falling during the course of a year. The likely explanation for the difference is that Medigap patients are in overall better health as reflected in their higher scores on the Short Form-36 Physical and Mental Component scales, said Dr. Hawkins, senior director at Ingenix, a health care information and research company.
Medigap participants aged 85 years or older were 1.9-fold more likely to have fallen and 2.5-fold more likely to be at risk of falling than were those aged 65-74 years.
Falling decreased the average SF-36 Physical Component score by 5.6 points and the Mental Component score by 3.1 points. Being at increased risk for falling was associated with a mean 8.3-point reduction in the Physical Component score and a 2.5-point drop in the Mental Component score. These quality of life decrements were significantly larger than those associated with having sciatica, angina, digestive disorders, respiratory disease, and vision or hearing problems.
The Ingenix survey was funded by the United Health Group, which insures the AARP Medigap plan.