Association of motor index scores with fall incidence among community‐dwelling older people

Abstract

Background: Several kinds of motor dysfunction have been studied for predicting future fall risk in community-dwelling older individuals. However, no study has tested the ability of the fine motor (FINEA) and gross motor (GROSSA) indices to predict the risk of falling, as well as the specific fall type.Objective: We investigated the associations of FINEA/GROSSA scores with fall risk, accidental falls, and unexplained falls.Methods: A total of 6267 community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years were included. First, the associations of FINEA and GROSSA scores with total falls, accidental falls and unexplained falls were assessed in a cross-sectional study and further verified in a prospective cohort after 2 years of follow-up by logistic regression.Results: We found that high FINEA index and GROSSA index scores were positively associated with the risk of falls (FINEA: total falls: adjusted OR [aOR]=1.50, P=0.001; accidental falls: aOR=1.22, P=0.163; unexplained falls: aOR=2.25, P<0.001; GROSSA: total falls: OR=1.68, P<0.001; accidental falls: aOR=1.42, P=0.002; unexplained falls: aOR=2.50, P<0.001) in a cross-sectional study. After 2 years of follow-up, high FINEA scores were associated with an increased incidence of total falls and accidental falls but not unexplained falls (total falls: aOR=1.68, P=0.003; accidental falls: aOR=1.76, P=0.005; unexplained falls: aOR=1.46, P=0.201). High GROSSA scores were borderline associated with an increased incidence of total falls and unexplained falls but not accidental falls (total falls: aOR=1.31, P=0.066; accidental falls: OR=1.13, P=0.500; unexplained falls: aOR=1.61, P=0.045).Conclusion: FINEA and GROSSA scores were positively associated with the risk of falls. FINEA or GROSSA may be used as a useful tool to screen for and identify community-dwelling adults at high risk of falling.