Effectiveness of Mobile Health Application-Based Interventions for Fall Prevention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and loss of independence among community-dwelling older adults. Mobile health (mHealth) application (app)-based interventions have emerged as a scalable approach to fall prevention. However, evidence from individual trials remains fragmented, underscoring the need for a comprehensive quantitative synthesis. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether mHealth app-based interventions reduce fall incidence and improve fall-related risk factors. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science identified randomized controlled trials meeting predefined eligibility criteria. Nine trials comprising 3437 participants were included, with dual-independent data extraction, quality appraisal, and assessment of evidence certainty. Compared with usual care or control conditions, mHealth app-based interventions reduced fall risk by 11% over 12 months (risk ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.98), corresponding to an absolute risk reduction of 6.6%. The pooled reduction in fall rate, however, did not reach statistical significance. Secondary analyses showed moderate improvements in balance, strength, and mobility, a significant decrease in fear of falling, and no serious adverse events. Overall, mHealth app-based interventions provide modest but meaningful benefits and may complement comprehensive fall-prevention strategies for older adults.