Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40003481›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2025

Risk Factors for Fall-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review Highlighting Research Gaps.

Albert K Okrah, Shafer Tharrington, Isaac Shin, Aaron Wagoner, Katelyn S Woodsmall, Deborah A Jehu

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
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.

Albert K OkrahDepartment of Community & Behavioral Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1673-3896
Shafer TharringtonRobert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library, College of Allied Health Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30901, USA.
Isaac ShinDepartment of Community & Behavioral Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Aaron WagonerDepartment of Community & Behavioral Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Katelyn S WoodsmallDepartment of Community & Behavioral Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Deborah A JehuDepartment of Community & Behavioral Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9084-7445

Funding

Augusta University Graduate Research Assistantship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is commonly undiagnosed, delaying treatment and recovery. Approximately 80% of mTBIs in older adults stem from falls, yet the predictive factors remain unclear. This systematic review aimed to examine the risk factors for fall-related mTBIs among older adults. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines were followed (Prospero ID: CRD42023377847). The scope included prospective studies analyzing the risk factors for fall-related mTBIs in adults ≥ 60 years. The primary outcome measure was the relative risk for fall-related mTBIs, and the secondary outcomes were fall rate, total falls, and faller/non-faller count among those with and without an mTBI. CINAHL Plus, Health Source: Nursing Academic Edition, Nursing and Allied Health Database, Medline via PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched on 4 November 2022 and 31 May 2024. Additional electronic searches were conducted. Two authors planned to screen the articles and assess the quality and risk of bias, with a third author adjudicating disagreements. Results were to be presented in a narrative synthesis. The database search yielded 434 records; 410 titles and abstracts were screened after deduplication, and 71 reports underwent a full-text review. No prospective observational studies were eligible because they did not fulfil the following: (1) focus on an mTBI (46 records); (2) exclusively assess individuals aged ≥60 (20 records); or (3) examine falls (5 records). Given the devastating consequences of fall-related mTBIs among older adults, there is an urgent need to identify the risk factors to improve screening and intervention.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsBrain ConcussionAgedAged, 80 and overEvidence GapsHumansMiddle AgedRisk Factorsaccidental fallsagedbrain concussionbrain injuriesfall riskhead injurysystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40003481
PMCPMC11854998

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Registered trials

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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.