Impact of Balance and Dizziness Problems on Falls in Older Adults: The Longitudinal AGES-Reykjavik Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Li, Chuan-Ming ; Hoffman, Howard J. ; Ward, Bryan K. ; Della Santina, Charles C. ; Cotch, Mary F. ; Chiu, May S. ; Losonczy, Katalin G. ; Themann, Christa L. ; Launer, Lenore J. ; Siggeirsdottir, Kristin ; Jonsson, Palmi V. ; Gudnason, Vilmundur ; Petersen, Hannes
• Description:
  Objective To investigate the impact of balance and dizziness problems (BDP) and other risk factors on falls in a longitudinal, population-based cohort of older adults. Methods The Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES-RS I) 2002-2006 examined 5764 adults aged 66-98. Five years later, 3316 surviving subjects were reexamined in AGES-RS II. Participants were asked about BDP, falls, usual activities, and health conditions. BDP symptoms during the past 12 months included: vertigo (spinning/moving sensation); floating/spacey sensation; light-headedness (no moving sensation); near fainting (presyncope) or fainting (syncope); blurred vision with head movement (oscillopsia); and feeling off-balance/unsteady. Clinical assessments included hand grip and leg strength plus steps and time to walk 6 m. Results During the past 12 months in AGES-RS II, BDP prevalence was 40.1% (males 35.2%, females 43.7%) and the prevalence of falling was 23.0% (males 20.9%, females 24.8%). BDP increased steps and time to walk 6 m. BDP increased the risk of falls (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-1.76 for AGES-RS I, PR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.55-2.03 for AGES-RS II). The prevalence of ≥ 2 falls was 8.9% (15.6% with BDP vs. 4.4% without BDP). Among those who fell ≥ 2 times, 70.4% reported BDP in the past 12 months. Additional risk of falling was associated with fear/panic attacks, memory loss, hearing loss, and other health conditions. Conclusion: BDP are common in older adults and associated with 50% to 80% increased risk of falling and even greater risk of falling ≥ 2 times. Quantitative estimates are provided for contributing factors that further increase the risk of falls.
• Subjects:
  Adult Aged Dizziness Postural Balance
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Dizziness; Falls; Imbalance; Population-based Longitudinal Study; Vertigo Longitudinal Study; Population Based Studies; Cohort Studies; Aging; Falls; Vestibular Disorders; Epidemiology;
• ISSN:
  2378-8038
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Ohio ; Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; Reykjavik
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  17 pdf pages
• Volume:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071126
• Citation:
  Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2025 Nov; 10(6):e70266
• Email:
  hoffmanh@nidcd.nih.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:79a88fe1f50ca803e3869838e3bae7fd63add475433fa6f437ac65daf920a8b7b9606de42ea62c1a54415d88aaac71f99b21531f7b84eb408bc6929e12ada648
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257902/cdc_257902_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 328.52 KB ]