Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40670926›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

How socioeconomic status shapes health outcomes following severe falls: a cross-sectional analysis.

Elisa-Marie Speckmann, Lars Schwettmann, Laura Himmelmann, Tania Zieschang, Tim Stuckenschneider

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

5 authors.

Elisa-Marie SpeckmannDepartment for Health Services Research, Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Services, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany. elisa-marie.speckmann@uni-oldenburg.de.
Lars SchwettmannDepartment for Health Services Research, Health Economics/School of Medicine and Health Services, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
Laura HimmelmannDepartment for Health Services Research, Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Services, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
Tania ZieschangDepartment for Health Services Research, Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Services, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
Tim StuckenschneiderDepartment for Health Services Research, Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Services, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveFalls are a major health concern, leading to severe injuries, fatalities, and increased risk of future falls. Severe falls, requiring medical care, necessitate targeted interventions. Socioeconomic status (SES), measured by income and education, influences health outcomes, with lower SES linked to greater multimorbidity and reduced physical activity. While SES broadly impacts fall risk, limited research explores its effects following severe falls. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and health outcomes in older adults following a fall with presentation to the emergency department (ED).

methodsWe analyzed data from the SeFallED study, comprising individuals over the age of 60, who presented to the ED following a recent fall, without requiring subsequent hospitalization. Income and education were used to characterize SES. Health outcomes include mental and functional performance, physical activity, mental well-being, and utilization of the health system. Linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for age and sex, were used to assess associations with health outcomes, incorporating multicollinearity checks, residual diagnostics, and bias-corrected bootstrapping to ensure robustness and reproducibility.

resultsIn this cross-sectional study of 172 older adults (median age 74 years) following a severe fall, education was positively associated with functional and mental outcomes, including Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), cognitive status, hand grip strength, and physical performance (p < .001). Regression analysis, adjusting for age and sex, revealed that higher education was significantly associated with better ADLs, cognitive status, hand grip strength, and physical performance, while income showed no significant associations with these outcomes.

conclusionThis study revealed that the associations with mental and functional health outcomes in older adults following a severe fall were the strongest for education, rather than income. Higher education was associated with better performance. Income showed limited associations but was negatively correlated with concerns about falling. Age and sex were critical covariates, influencing key health outcomes. These findings provide insights that may be relevant for future research and considerations in studies involving older adults presenting to EDs.

trial registrationDRKS00025949 https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00025949 , Registered on 4th November, 2021.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsSocial ClassAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesEmergency Service, HospitalExerciseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedEmergency departmentFallsHealthOlder adultsSocioeconomic status.

Identifiers

PMID40670926
PMCPMC12269145

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LicenceCC BY
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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.