Lach Helen W
Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
Public Health Nurs. 2005 Jan-Feb;22(1):45-52. doi: 10.1111/j.0737-1209.2005.22107.x.
Fear of falling is a potential cause of excess disability and an emerging public health problem. This study explores fear of falling in a longitudinal study of falls to determine incidence, prevalence, and risk factors for developing fear of falling. Prospective cohort study with annual follow-up for 2 years, conducted in a large urban metropolitan area, included 890 community-dwelling older adults--approximately equal numbers in four age groups over the age of 65. Demographic data, falls, injuries, balance, fear of falling, cognition, health, and functional status were collected through annual interviews. The prevalence of fear of falling increased over 2 years from 23 to 43%; the incidence averaged 22.5% in the 2 follow-up years. Having two or more falls, feeling unsteady, and reporting fair or poor health status were independent risk factors for developing fear of falling. The incidence and prevalence of fear of falling is significant among community-dwelling older adults and has the potential to impact function and quality of life. Public health nurses should consider fear of falling in practice, in developing screening and health programs for older adults, and as an important avenue for further research.
害怕跌倒（跌倒恐惧）是导致过度残疾的一个潜在原因，也是一个新出现的公共卫生问题。本研究在一项关于跌倒的纵向研究中探讨跌倒恐惧，以确定跌倒恐惧的发生率、患病率以及产生跌倒恐惧的风险因素。在一个大型城市都会区进行了为期2年、每年随访一次的前瞻性队列研究，研究对象为890名居住在社区的老年人，65岁以上的四个年龄组人数大致相等。通过每年的访谈收集人口统计学数据、跌倒情况、受伤情况、平衡能力、跌倒恐惧、认知能力、健康状况和功能状态。跌倒恐惧的患病率在2年中从23%上升到43%；在2年的随访期内，平均发病率为22.5%。发生两次或更多次跌倒、感觉不稳以及报告健康状况为一般或较差是产生跌倒恐惧的独立风险因素。在居住在社区的老年人中，跌倒恐惧的发生率和患病率很高，并且有可能影响功能和生活质量。公共卫生护士在实践中、在为老年人制定筛查和健康计划时应考虑到跌倒恐惧，并将其作为进一步研究的一个重要方向。
