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DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, FALLS, AND FEAR OF FALLING IN OLD KOREAN ADULTS: THE KOREAN LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON HEALTH AND AGING (KLOSHA)

Y. Park, N.-J. Paik, K.W. Kim, H.-C. Jang, J.-Y. Lim

J Frailty Aging 2017;6(3):144-147

Fall is a common cause of disability and death in old adults, and much research has been focused on identifying risk factors and developing preventive measures. Yet the majority of preceding research has been focused on physical performance. This study aims to evaluate the association between fall and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly. Cross-sectional data of 431 men and 546 women was collected from old Korean adults living in Seongnam, Korea. Geriatric fall assessment was conducted by self-report questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were associated with both fall and fear of falling in old adults. A clear gender difference was newly discovered, as depression played a stronger role in women. These results imply that clinicians should consider the negative affect of geriatric patients when assessing fall risk. Also, measures against depression might be effective in reducing falls.

CITATION:
Y. Park ; N.-J. Paik ; K.W. Kim ; H.-C. Jang ; J.-Y. Lim (2017): Depressive symptoms, falls, and fear of falling in old Korean adults: the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA). The Journal of Frailty and Aging (JFA). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2017.21

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