Fear of Falling (FoF) is associated with poorer functional outcomes after hip fracture.

The goal of a new study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry was to differentiate patterns of FoF at 4 and 12 weeks after surgical repair for hip fracture and examine predictors of FoF.

This was a secondary analysis of existing data from a 52-week prospective study examining recovery after hip fractures. Participants (N=263) were recruited from eight hospitals—aged 60 and older with a recent hip fracture. FoF was measured 4 and 12 weeks post-fracture with the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Distinct patterns of FoF from 4 to 12 weeks post-fracture and predictors of FoF were identified. Predictors examined included age, gender, neuroticism, depression, negative affect, perceived social support, medical comorbidity, functional ability, cognition and pain.

Overall, three latent classes of FoF were identified – a group with minimal FoF at weeks 4 and 12 (72%); a group with high FoF that decreased (17%); and a group with high FoF that increased from week 4 to 12 (11%). The results revealed that higher neuroticism was associated with greater risk for high FoF (increasing or decreasing) whereas, higher premorbid medical comorbidity was associated with increasing FoF. Meanwhile, poorer premorbid functional ability was associated with decreasing FoF and social support was not significantly associated.

From the findings, it was inferred that older adults with higher neuroticism are more likely to have FoF in the first 12 weeks after a hip fracture. Screening for neuroticism in health care settings might identify individuals who would benefit from interventions to improve outcomes during recovery.

Source: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 1. doi: 10.1002/gps.5261