{"title":"Falls among geriatric cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and risk across cancer types.","authors":"Doddolla Lingamaiah, Ganesh Bushi, Shilpa Gaidhane, Ashok Kumar Balaraman, G Padmapriya, Irwanjot Kaur, Madan Lal, Suhaib Iqbal, G V Siva Prasad, Atreyi Pramanik, Teena Vishwakarma, Praveen Malik, Promila Sharma, Mahendra Pratap Singh, Ankit Punia, Megha Jagga, Muhammed Shabil, Rachana Mehta, Sanjit Sah, Quazi Syed Zahiruddin","doi":"10.1186/s12877-025-05722-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Falls represent a significant health concern among the older adults, particularly geriatric cancer patients, due to their increased susceptibility from both age-related and cancer treatment-related factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize global data on the prevalence and risk of falls in this population to inform targeted fall prevention strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to October 2024. Articles were screened using Nested Knowledge software by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies included those involving geriatric cancer patients aged 60 years or older reporting on fall prevalence. Quality assessment was performed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models with R software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 1,365 identified studies, 86 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 180,974 participants. The pooled prevalence of falls was 24% (95% CI, 20%-28%), with substantial heterogeneity (I<sup>2</sup> = 100%). Country- and cancer-type-specific analyses revealed variability in fall prevalence, with breast cancer patients showing the highest prevalence. The comparative risk analysis did not show a statistically significant difference in fall risk between cancer patients and non-cancer controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Falls are a prevalent and concerning issue among geriatric cancer patients, with substantial variability influenced by cancer type and study design. Personalized fall prevention strategies tailored to cancer-specific risk factors are essential. Further research is warranted to explore the complex interplay of cancer treatments, frailty, and fall risk in this vulnerable population.</p>","PeriodicalId":9056,"journal":{"name":"BMC Geriatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"179"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909948/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"BMC Geriatrics","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05722-1","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Falls among geriatric cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and risk across cancer types.
Background: Falls represent a significant health concern among the older adults, particularly geriatric cancer patients, due to their increased susceptibility from both age-related and cancer treatment-related factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize global data on the prevalence and risk of falls in this population to inform targeted fall prevention strategies.
Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to October 2024. Articles were screened using Nested Knowledge software by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies included those involving geriatric cancer patients aged 60 years or older reporting on fall prevalence. Quality assessment was performed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models with R software.
Results: From 1,365 identified studies, 86 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 180,974 participants. The pooled prevalence of falls was 24% (95% CI, 20%-28%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 100%). Country- and cancer-type-specific analyses revealed variability in fall prevalence, with breast cancer patients showing the highest prevalence. The comparative risk analysis did not show a statistically significant difference in fall risk between cancer patients and non-cancer controls.
Conclusion: Falls are a prevalent and concerning issue among geriatric cancer patients, with substantial variability influenced by cancer type and study design. Personalized fall prevention strategies tailored to cancer-specific risk factors are essential. Further research is warranted to explore the complex interplay of cancer treatments, frailty, and fall risk in this vulnerable population.
期刊介绍:
BMC Geriatrics is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of the health and healthcare of older people, including the effects of healthcare systems and policies. The journal also welcomes research focused on the aging process, including cellular, genetic, and physiological processes and cognitive modifications.