BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Falls, fear of falling, and lower body strength in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults with cancer

Schroder Sattar, Kristen R. Haase, A. C. Sirois, M. L. McNeely, C. Kenis, K. Milisen

Abstract


Falls are a major public health issue among older adults (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014). A fall is an unexpected event in which an individual comes to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level (Montero-Odasso et al., 2022). Falls are attributed as the leading cause of hip fractures, functional decline, and nursing home placement (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014), and a leading cause of injury-related death among older adults (Kakara et al., 2023). Among older adults with cancer, falls are common (Gomaa et al., 2023; Kenis et al., 2022) and can affect cancer treatment regimen (Sattar et al., 2019). While evidence from the general geriatric setting has demonstrated the links between fear of falling (FOF), lower body muscle strength, and risk of falls in older adults (Asai et al., 2022; Forte et al., 2021; Garbin & Fisher, 2023; Tomita et al., 2018), research specific to falls and fall risks in the geriatric oncology setting is limited (Kenis et al., 2022), despite the aging of the population and increasing number of older adults with cancer. The objectives of this brief report are to explore the associations among history of falls, FOF, and lower body strength at baseline in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults with cancer.

 


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References


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