USPSTF recommendation statement on interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults

Bottom Line: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends exercise interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who are at increased risk for falls. The USPSTF recommends that clinicians individualize the decision to offer multifactorial interventions to prevent falls to community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who are at increased risk for falls. Existing evidence indicates that the overall net benefit of routinely offering multifactorial interventions to prevent falls is small. When determining whether this service is appropriate for an individual, patients and clinicians should consider the balance of benefits and harms based on the circumstances of prior falls, presence of comorbid medical conditions, and the patient’s values and preferences. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults in the U.S. The USPSTF routinely makes recommendations about the effectiveness of preventive care services and this recommendation replaces the 2018 recommendation.

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(doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8481)

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Note: More information about the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, its process, and its recommendations can be found on the newsroom page of its website.

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Media advisory: To contact the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, email the Media Coordinator at Newsroom@USPSTF.net or call 301-951-9203. 

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