Centre for Policy on Ageing



Environmental interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people — a meta-analysis of randomized trials
Author(s)	Lindy Clemson, Lynette Mackenzie, Claire Ballinger
Journal title	Journal of Aging and Health, vol 20, no 8, December 2008
Pages	pp 954-971
Source	http://www.sagepublications.com
Keywords	Falls ; At risk ; Preventative medicine ; Accident prevention ; Living in the community ; Clinical surveys.
Annotation	A pooled analysis of six trials (n=3298) demonstrated a 21% reduction in falls risk (relative risk, RR = 0.79; 0.65 to 0.97). The trials had been conducted in Australia (3), and one each in Germany, France and New Zealand. Heterogeneity was attributable to the large treatment effect of one trial. Analysis of a sub-group of studies with participants at high risk of falls (four falls, n=570) demonstrated a clinically significant 9% reduction of falls (RR= 0.61; 0.47 to 0.79), an absolute risk difference of 26% for a number needed to treat four people. Home assessment interventions that are comprehensive are well focused, and incorporate an environmental-fit perspective with adequate follow-up can be successful in reducing falls with significant effects. The highest effects are associated with interventions that are conducted with high risk groups. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-090806201 A
Classmark	OLF: CA3: LK2: OQ: K4: 3G
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.