Health indicators associated with falls among older women enrolled in an evidence-based program

Background. Aging women are disproportionately burdened by fall-related injuries. Although more women than men participate in evidence-based fall-prevention programs, less is known about the relationship between older female participants' baseline health status and self-reported falls over the course of the intervention.

Objectives. Using data from A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Model (AMOB/VLL) workshops, this study examines female participants' socio-demographics and baseline health indicators associated with self-reported falls at baseline and 8-week follow-up.

Methods. Data were analyzed from 814 older women (mean age=76.2 years) collected during the statewide AMOB/VLL dissemination in Texas. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify socio-demographics and baseline health indicators associated with four different fall scenarios: no falls at baseline or follow-up; fall at baseline only; falls at baseline and follow-up; and fall at follow-up only.

Results. Approximately 73% reported no falls at either time point, 12.7% reported falling at baseline only, 8.1% reported falling at baseline and follow-up, and 6.6% reported falling at follow-up only. Relative to women reporting no falls at either time point, those who reported falling at baseline were less likely to be Hispanic [P=0.024] and more likely to report unhealthy physical days in the previous month [P=0.002]. Women who reported falling at baseline and follow-up were less likely to be African American [P=0.041] and more likely to report unhealthy physical [P=0.047] and mental [P=0.012] days.

Conclusion. Findings have implications for identifying at-risk women upon enrollment and leveraging AMOB/VLL for subsequent referral to other evidence-based exercise, disease management, and mental health interventions.