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Falls: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relationship to fracture
Berry SD, Miller RR.. Current osteoporosis reports, 2008-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Falls are common in the elderly, and frequently result in injury and disability. Most falls result from an interaction between individual characteristics that increase an individual's propensity to fall and acute mediating risk factors that provide the opportunity to fall. Predisposing risk factors include age-associated changes in strength and balance, comorbidities such as osteoarthritis, visual impairment and dementia, psychotropic medications, and certain types of footwear. Fewer studies have focused on acute precipitating factors, but environmental and situational factors are clearly important to fall risk. Approximately 30% of falls result in an injury that requires medical attention, with fractures occurring in approximately 10%. In addition to the risk factors for falls, the fall descent, fall impact, and bone strength are all important determinants of whether a fall will result in a fracture. In recent years, numerous studies have been directed toward the development of effective fall and fall-related fracture prevention interventions.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Berry, S. D., & Miller, R. R. (2008). Falls: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relationship to fracture. Current osteoporosis reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-008-0026-4
Vancouver
Berry SD, Miller RR. Falls: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relationship to fracture. Current osteoporosis reports. 2008. doi:10.1007/s11914-008-0026-4. PMID: 19032925.
BibTeX
@article{berry2008-19032925,
author = {Berry, S. D. and Miller, R. R.},
title = {{Falls: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relationship to fracture}},
journal = {Current osteoporosis reports},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1007/s11914-008-0026-4},
pmid = {19032925},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-008-0026-4}
}
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Key findings
- Falls are common in the elderly, and frequently result in injury and disability.
- Most falls result from an interaction between individual characteristics that increase an individual's propensity to fall and acute mediating risk factors that provide the opportunity to fall.
- Approximately 30% of falls result in an injury that requires medical attention, with fractures occurring in approximately 10%.
- In addition to the risk factors for falls, the fall descent, fall impact, and bone strength are all important determinants of whether a fall will result in a fracture.
Why it matters
This review lists dementia as one of several comorbidities that predispose older adults to falls, and notes that falls frequently result in injury and disability. It does not test any treatment or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Current osteoporosis reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Current Osteoporosis Reports: journal h-index 105 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 329 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.4 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 55 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ram R. Miller: h-index 34 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Maryland, Baltimore: institution h-index 970 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19032925) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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