Details:

Alternative Title:
Am J Prev Med
Personal Author:
Stevens, Judy A. ; Lee, Robin
Stevens, Judy A. ; Lee, Robin Less -
Description:
INTRODUCTION

Falls often cause severe injuries and are one of the most costly health conditions among older adults. Yet, many falls are preventable. The number of preventable medically treated falls and associated costs averted were estimated by applying evidence-based falls interventions in clinical settings.

DESIGN

A peer-review literature review was conducted in 2017 using literature published between 1994 and 2017, the authors estimated the prevalence of seven fall risk factors and the effectiveness of seven evidence-based falls interventions.

PARTICIPANTS

Older Americans aged 65 and older living in the community.

INTERVENTIONS

Tai chi, Otago, medication management, vitamin D supplementation, expedited first eye cataract surgery, single vision distance lenses for outdoor activities, and home modifications led by an occupational therapist.

MEASURES

The authors estimated the number of older adults who would be eligible to receive one of seven falls interventions. Then, using the reported effectiveness of each intervention, the number of medically treated falls that could be prevented and the associated direct medical costs averted was calculated.

RESULTS

Depending upon the size of the eligible population, implementing a single intervention could prevent between 9,563–45,164 medically treated falls and avert $94–$442 million in direct medical costs annually. The interventions with the potential to help the greatest number of older adults were those that provided home modification delivered by an occupational therapist ($38.2 million), and recommended daily vitamin D supplements ($16.7 million).

CONCLUSIONS

This report is the first to estimate the number of medically treated falls that could be prevented and the direct medical costs that could be adverted. Preventing falls can benefit older adults substantially by improving their health, independence, and quality of life.


Keywords:
[+]
Accidental Falls Aged Cost Savings Dietary Supplements Elderly Exercise Falls Falls Intervention Health Care Provider Humans Independent Living Medical Cost Medication Reconciliation Quality Of Life Risk Factors Tai Ji Vitamin D
Source:
Am J Prev Med. 55(3):290-297
Pubmed ID:
30122212
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC6103639
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:b65f5217660a2f3b98cd971e149ba26d8b84e127f1e9e10e1ef2675d03e9f341
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/58360/cdc_58360_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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