Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29665016›Full record

Observational studyJournal of the American Geriatrics Society2018

Underreporting of Fall Injuries of Older Adults: Implications for Wellness Visit Fall Risk Screening.

Geoffrey J Hoffman, Jinkyung Ha, Neil B Alexander, Kenneth M Langa, Mary Tinetti, Lillian C Min

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 72 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
72citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

72 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
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  5. Article
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  8. Article
  9. Falls predict faster progression to Alzheimer's dementia.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026
    Article
  10. Article
  11. Multidimensional determinants of active and healthy aging trajectories: a position paper from the Age-It Research Program.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2025
    Article
  12. Age-Related Changes in the Clinical Picture of Long COVID.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2025
    Article
  13. Article
  14. Development of a Modifiable Fall Risk Score for evaluating changes in fall risk over time.Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention · 2025
    Article
  15. Observational
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  18. Article
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12 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Geoffrey J HoffmanDepartment of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jinkyung HaDivision of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Neil B AlexanderDivision of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Kenneth M LangaCenter for Clinical Management and Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Mary TinettiDivision of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Lillian C MinDivision of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Funding

HRS Yrs29-34: Y33 SSA CoFundingU01AG009740 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Jessica Faul, KENNETH M LANGA · 1990 to 2026
$555.8M
Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR)UL1TR002240 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI LUMENG, JULIE C, MASHOUR, GEORGE ALEXANDER · 2017 to 2022
$54.9M
Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MCHR)UL1TR000433 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI MASHOUR, GEORGE ALEXANDER · 2012 to 2016
$49.9M
Research Education CoreP30AG024824 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Neil Alexander · 2004 to 2026
$29.2M
Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Core CenterP30AG053760 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI LIEBERMAN, ANDREW P · 2016 to 2020
$10.1M
Institutional Career Development CoreKL2TR002241 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI ELLINGROD, VICKI L · 2017 to 2021
$6.9M
Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MCHR)KL2TR000434 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI MASHOUR, GEORGE ALEXANDER · 2012 to 2016
$1.7M
Optimizing Treatment of Older Adults with Hypertension: A Net Benefit Analysis of Falls Injury vs Cardiovascular OutcomesR01AG047178 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI MIN, LILLIAN CHIANG · 2015 to 2019
$1.7M
HSRD VA I01 HX001611NCATS NIH HHS KL2 TR000434NCATS NIH HHS KL2 TR002241NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR000433NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR002240NIA NIH HHS P30 AG024824NIA NIH HHS P30 AG053760NIA NIH HHS R01 AG047178NIA NIH HHS U01 AG009740
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo compare the accuracy of and factors affecting the accuracy of self-reported fall-related injuries (SFRIs) with those of administratively obtained FRIs (AFRIs).

designRetrospective observational study

settingUnited States

participantsFee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older (N=47,215). MEASUREMENTS: We used 24-month self-report recall data from 2000-2012 Health and Retirement Study data to identify SFRIs and linked inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory Medicare data to identify AFRIs. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed, with AFRIs defined using the University of California at Los Angeles/RAND algorithm as the criterion standard. Logistic regression models were used to identify sociodemographic and health predictors of sensitivity.

resultsOverall sensitivity and specificity were 28% and 92%. Sensitivity was greater for the oldest adults (38%), women (34%), those with more functional limitations (47%), and those with a prior fall (38%). In adjusted results, several participant factors (being female, being white, poor functional status, depression, prior falls) were modestly associated with better sensitivity and specificity. Injury severity (requiring hospital care) most substantively improved SFRI sensitivity (73%).

conclusionAn overwhelming 72% of individuals who received Medicare-reimbursed health care for FRIs failed to report a fall injury when asked. Future efforts to address underreporting in primary care of nonwhite and healthier older adults are critical to improve preventive efforts. Redesigned questions-for example, that address stigma of attributing injury to falling-may improve sensitivity.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsPrimary Health CareActivities of Daily LivingAgedFemaleHospitalizationHumansInsurance Claim ReportingMaleMass ScreeningMedicareRetrospective StudiesRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsSelf ReportSensitivity and Specificityfall injuriesMedicarescreeningself reportsurvey

Identifiers

PMID29665016
PMCPMC6105546

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.