Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults

Objective: This study assessed the individual and combined associations of slow gait speed, weak grip strength, and depressive symptoms with the risk of serious falls in an aging population. Methods: This study used data from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, which collec...

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Main Authors: Temam Beshir Raru, Julie A. Pasco, Mojtaba Lotfaliany, Shiva Ganjali, Malcolm Forbes, Alice J. Owen, Robyn L Woods, Anna Barker, Suzanne G. Orchard, Joanne Ryan, John J. McNeil, Michael Berk, Mohammadreza Mohebbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950307825000372
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author Temam Beshir Raru
Julie A. Pasco
Mojtaba Lotfaliany
Shiva Ganjali
Malcolm Forbes
Alice J. Owen
Robyn L Woods
Anna Barker
Suzanne G. Orchard
Joanne Ryan
John J. McNeil
Michael Berk
Mohammadreza Mohebbi
author_facet Temam Beshir Raru
Julie A. Pasco
Mojtaba Lotfaliany
Shiva Ganjali
Malcolm Forbes
Alice J. Owen
Robyn L Woods
Anna Barker
Suzanne G. Orchard
Joanne Ryan
John J. McNeil
Michael Berk
Mohammadreza Mohebbi
author_sort Temam Beshir Raru
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This study assessed the individual and combined associations of slow gait speed, weak grip strength, and depressive symptoms with the risk of serious falls in an aging population. Methods: This study used data from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, which collected adjudicated events on serious falls from Australian community-dwelling older adults (≥70 years). Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (AHR). Results: Of 16,357 participants, 1505 (9.2 %) had serious falls over the median (IQR) follow-up of 4.4 (3.3–5.5) years. Slow gait, weak grip, and depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with serious falls (AHR = 1.38, 95 %CI: 1.22–1.56; AHR = 1.22, 95 %CI: 1.07–1.38, and AHR=1.28, 95 %CI:1.10–1.50, respectively). Combined slow gait, weak grip, and depressive symptoms were associated with a more than two-fold increase in the risk of serious falls (AHR=2.15, 95 %CI: 1.56–2.97). The presence of slow gait and weak grip were associated with a 66 % increase in the risk of serious falls (AHR=1.66, 95 %CI:1.40–1.97). Depressive symptoms worsened the risk of falls among individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Conclusion: Combined gait speed, grip strength, and depressive symptoms have a strong association with serious falls in an aging population. Therefore, incorporating strength and mobility training interventions to improve physical functions and addressing depression through timely diagnosis and effective treatment may help to prevent the risk of falls among older adults.
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spelling doaj-art-44ffa42dc3214b0b81aad7972fe94de42025-08-20T03:48:27ZengElsevierArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus2950-30782025-06-012210015510.1016/j.aggp.2025.100155Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adultsTemam Beshir Raru0Julie A. Pasco1Mojtaba Lotfaliany2Shiva Ganjali3Malcolm Forbes4Alice J. Owen5Robyn L Woods6Anna Barker7Suzanne G. Orchard8Joanne Ryan9John J. McNeil10Michael Berk11Mohammadreza Mohebbi12Deakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia; Corresponding author at: The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, PO Box 281, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.Deakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne – Western Health, St Albans, AustraliaDeakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, AustraliaDeakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, AustraliaDeakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDeakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, AustraliaDeakin University, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Vitoria, AustraliaObjective: This study assessed the individual and combined associations of slow gait speed, weak grip strength, and depressive symptoms with the risk of serious falls in an aging population. Methods: This study used data from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, which collected adjudicated events on serious falls from Australian community-dwelling older adults (≥70 years). Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (AHR). Results: Of 16,357 participants, 1505 (9.2 %) had serious falls over the median (IQR) follow-up of 4.4 (3.3–5.5) years. Slow gait, weak grip, and depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with serious falls (AHR = 1.38, 95 %CI: 1.22–1.56; AHR = 1.22, 95 %CI: 1.07–1.38, and AHR=1.28, 95 %CI:1.10–1.50, respectively). Combined slow gait, weak grip, and depressive symptoms were associated with a more than two-fold increase in the risk of serious falls (AHR=2.15, 95 %CI: 1.56–2.97). The presence of slow gait and weak grip were associated with a 66 % increase in the risk of serious falls (AHR=1.66, 95 %CI:1.40–1.97). Depressive symptoms worsened the risk of falls among individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Conclusion: Combined gait speed, grip strength, and depressive symptoms have a strong association with serious falls in an aging population. Therefore, incorporating strength and mobility training interventions to improve physical functions and addressing depression through timely diagnosis and effective treatment may help to prevent the risk of falls among older adults.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950307825000372Serious fallsGait speedGrip strengthDepressive symptoms
spellingShingle Temam Beshir Raru
Julie A. Pasco
Mojtaba Lotfaliany
Shiva Ganjali
Malcolm Forbes
Alice J. Owen
Robyn L Woods
Anna Barker
Suzanne G. Orchard
Joanne Ryan
John J. McNeil
Michael Berk
Mohammadreza Mohebbi
Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus
Serious falls
Gait speed
Grip strength
Depressive symptoms
title Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
title_full Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
title_fullStr Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
title_full_unstemmed Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
title_short Contribution of gait speed, grip strength, and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
title_sort contribution of gait speed grip strength and depression on the risk of serious falls among older adults
topic Serious falls
Gait speed
Grip strength
Depressive symptoms
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950307825000372
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