2026 Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 15-22
Fear of falling, which affects physical activity levels and overall quality of life, is a significant concern among older adults. The STEADI tool is widely used to assess fall risk. In this study, we utilized the questionnaire items of this tool along with prescription data to examine their association with fear of falling. To evaluate fear of falling and its associated factors, we conducted two logistic regression analyses. In the first analysis, self-reported data from the STEADI tool were used to identify direct risk factors for fear of falling. The results indicated that items related to mobility function were significantly associated with fear of falling, suggesting that fear of falling is closely linked not only to psychological factors but also to actual declines in physical function. In the second analysis, prescription data were categorized by drug type to evaluate the relationship between fear of falling and medication use. The results showed that the use of medications acting on the central nervous system was significantly associated with an increased fear of falling. In contrast, the use of cardiovascular medications was associated with a lower level of fear of falling. These findings suggest that medication use may play a role in influencing fear of falling, highlighting the need for careful medication management in older adults. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to develop strategies for reducing fear of falling.
