The Prevalence, Determinants, and Consequences of Falls in Middle-Aged Adults in Greater Manchester in 2018-2022

Ventre, Jodi (2022) The Prevalence, Determinants, and Consequences of Falls in Middle-Aged Adults in Greater Manchester in 2018-2022. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

Preview

Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (5MB) | Preview

Abstract

Falls within older adults have been well researched for several decades, with falls in this age group remaining a significant health concern. The research that has considered falls in middleaged adults, however, is limited despite growing evidence for falls frequency, in some cases, being similar to that of older adults. This programme of work aimed to address this unmet need by researching middle-aged fallers and contrasting them with age-match non-fallers; the profiles of both groups were considered in the context of older-aged fallers and nonfallers. In a number of the reported studies, individuals from the Greater Manchester region were recruited to four independent studies following evidence that Manchester’s demographics for falls was the highest in England. Across a range of physiological, psychological, and behavioural factors, the data suggests that there are differences between fallers and non-fallers in the middle-aged population just as there are within older adults; some of these difference profiles are similar to those currently seen in only in older adults. Screening techniques used with limited success in older adults are also problematic for middle-aged fallers and presented sensitivity and validity concerns. Simple step and hopping data may be the most useful as a simple, valid field screening marker within the middle-aged fall population with middle-aged fallers displaying 29.6% shorter hop distances when compared to aged-matched non-fallers. The global pandemic was predicted to have significant implications for fallers, however, the evidence reported here suggests that falls did continue but, due to Government restrictions on movement and imposed ‘lockdowns’, there were fewer injurious falls outdoors and more, less severe falls indoors. The impact of increased sedentary behaviour is discussed as a future concern for middle-aged adults.