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Frequent Falling and Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement of Older Drivers
Author(s) -
Huisingh Carrie,
McGwin Gerald,
Orman Katherine A.,
Owsley Cynthia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.12594
Subject(s) - medicine , falling (accident) , odds ratio , fear of falling , logistic regression , confidence interval , confounding , odds , motor vehicle crash , occupational safety and health , poison control , population , demography , injury prevention , gerontology , medical emergency , environmental health , pathology , sociology
Objectives To examine the relationship between frequent falls in older drivers and motor vehicle collision ( MVC ) involvement. Design Cross‐sectional. Setting North central A labama. Participants Population‐based sample of 2,000 licensed drivers aged 70 and older. Measurements Self‐reported history of falling two or more times in the prior year was the main predictor. Outcomes were any MVC or at‐fault MVC in the prior year. Results Approximately 9% of older drivers reported having fallen two or more times in the prior year. Logistic regression models indicated that frequent falling was associated with having any MVC (crude odds ratio ( OR ) = 1.53, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 0.77–3.02) and an at‐fault MVC ( OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 0.97–5.06). Adjustment for the potentially confounding effects of demographic, health, visual, and driving characteristics did not meaningfully affect the association with any MVC , whereas the association with at‐fault MVC was weakened (adjusted OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 0.84–4.90). Conclusion Frequent falling was associated with at‐fault MVC involvement of older drivers, especially whites. History of falling can be used to identify individuals at risk of MVC involvement and to begin a dialogue about driver safety.