Depression linked to a risk of falls for elderly people
Publication Date:20/06/2008
Falls are common among elderly people, and can easily cause serious injuries. Now new research has found that elderly people who are depressed have a higher risk of falling. We look at the research and give advice to elderly people and their families about how to prevent falls.
What do we know already?
As many as a third of older people have a fall each year. For some of these people, an underlying medical condition may play a part in causing the fall. Researchers have now looked at thousands of elderly Australians to see whether depression or other medical conditions could be linked to a risk of falling.
What does the new study say?
Out of more than 21,000 Australians over the age of 60, nearly a quarter had fallen at least once in the previous year. The researchers found that 1 person in 10 had needed medical attention because of a fall. People who showed signs of depression were more likely to have had several falls or to have injured themselves in a fall. There was also a higher risk of falling for anyone taking antidepressants, especially the type called SSRIs.
Having arthritis was also linked to a risk of falling, and so was having several different health problems at the same time.
People in their 80s or older had a higher risk of falling than people in their 60s and 70s.
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers based at universities in Australia and New Zealand. It appeared in a free, online journal called PLoS ONE, which is published by a non-profit organisation called the Public Library of Science. It was paid for by the National Health and Medical Research Council, an Australian national organisation that funds health research.
How reliable are the findings?
The study was done by sending a questionnaire to thousands of people over the age of 60. More than 21,000 people took part in the survey, but there were lots of people who didn't reply. Also, because there were so many people, the researchers couldn't check whether people had filled in their questionnaires correctly. These things could affect the accuracy of the study.
Another slight problem with the study is that it's impossible to say whether being depressed causes people to fall, or whether people who hurt themselves in a fall become depressed because of their injuries.
It's also hard to know whether taking antidepressant drugs could cause falls. Doctors might be more likely to prescribe antidepressants to people who are very depressed or seriously ill, and these people might have a higher risk of falling to start with.
What does this mean for me?
Falls are a serious problem for elderly people. Falling can cause serious injuries, like a broken hip, which can mean time in hospital and even a risk of dying. Elderly people who fall over are also more likely to need full-time care in a nursing home.
If you're elderly, or you're caring for someone elderly, it's important to do anything you can to cut the risk of falls. This new research helps by giving some clues about which people are most at risk of falls.
What should I do now?
The charity Help the Aged has lots of suggestions for preventing falls.
- Exercises can improve your balance and strengthen your legs, which cuts your risk of falling. Your GP might know about balance classes in your area, or you could try contacting your local hospital, the council, or even sports centres.
- Check your home and make sure it's safe. There should be bright lighting and nothing in the way that you could trip over. If you're unsteady on your feet you could think about having handrails fitted.
- Be careful when you're doing things that are physically tricky. Don't stand on a chair to change light bulbs, for example.
- Check your eyesight. Eye tests are free if you're over 60.
- Talk to your doctor about the side effects of any medicines you're taking. Some drugs can make you dizzy and put you at risk of a fall.
You could also consider a personal fall alarm, so if you do fall down, you can reach help without needing to get to a phone. You may be able to get an alarm from an occupational therapist, social services or your housing authority. You can also buy alarm systems privately.
People in the study were quite good at predicting their own risk of a fall. So, if you're elderly and worried about falling over, it's worth looking at ways you can make yourself safer.
From:
Kerse N, Flicker L, Pfaff JJ, et al. Falls, depression and antidepressants in later life: a large primary care appraisal. PLoS ONE. 2008; 3: e2423. Available at http://www.plosone.org/doi/pone.0002423.
To read more, see our information on depression.
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This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
