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Title: FEAR OF FALLING AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY POST HIP FRACTURE
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2015
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Abstract: Fear of falling (FoF) has predicted functional decline; however, few studies have examined the temporal impact of FoF on functional recovery after hip fracture. We hypothesized that greater FoF would be associated with worse changes in physical functioning during hip fracture recovery. Data come from the Baltimore Hip Studies 4th cohort (1998-2004), a study of 180 community-dwelling women aged 65+ with incident hip fractures enrolled in a RCT of an in-home exercise intervention. Interviewer-administered assessments captured information on FoF (no FoF vs. moderate FoF vs. high FoF) and variables selected a priori at 2 months follow-up (i.e., study baseline). Physical function assessments (Lower Extremity Gain Scale; LEGS; 0-36) occurred at 2, 6 and 12 months. Linear mixed effects models estimated the association between FoF and changes in physical functioning controlling for age, cognition, Charlson comorbidity index and intervention group (n=156). Crude mean LEGS scores at 2, 6 and 12 months were 22.4, 26.0 and 30.4, respectively. Adjusted LEGS scores were significantly worse in patients with high FoF compared to those with no FoF at 2 months (20.7 vs 24.1; p=0.003). Trajectory results indicated that patients with high FoF experienced clinically significant (2+ unit Δ LEGS) greater improvements in their LEGS scores compared to those with no FoF: adjusted mean changes were 9.2 [7.5, 10.8] versus 6.1 [4.1, 8.1] (p=0.03). Despite hip fracture patients experiencing FoF during the immediate post fracture period; ultimately, those with high FoF still achieved similar levels of functional recovery compared to the other groups.
Url: https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/55/Suppl_2/217/2491370
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Authors: Johnson, R; Rathbun, AM; Orwig, D
Periodical (Full): The Gerontologist
Issue: 2
Volume: 55
Pages: 217
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Health
Countries: United States