Associations Between Mental Health Conditions and Falls in Older Adults: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews

TL;DR

This review explores how mental health issues like depression and anxiety are linked to falls in older adults and how these connections might be influenced by other factors.

Contribution

The study synthesizes existing systematic reviews to clarify the bidirectional relationship between mental health and falls in older adults.

Findings

Depression is strongly associated with an increased risk of falls in older adults.

Psychosocial factors such as loneliness may moderate the relationship between mental health and falls.

Variability in assessment tools and reporting methods contributes to inconsistent findings across studies.

Abstract

Falls are a leading cause of injury and reduced quality of life in older adults, with evidence suggesting a bidirectional relationship between falls and mental health conditions. Depression, anxiety, and psychosocial factors may influence fall risk and outcomes, yet findings across studies remain inconsistent. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence from systematic reviews to clarify these associations and identify potential moderating and mediating factors. We conducted a comprehensive search across MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, LILACS, Cochrane, and KSR Evidence. Eligible reviews examined relationships between mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety) and falls in adults aged ≥60 years. Dual independent screening and data extraction will be performed, with quality assessment using AMSTAR 2. Approximately 1780 articles were obtained from MeSH keyword searches. Preliminary findings suggest a strong association between depression and increased fall risk, with psychosocial factors, including loneliness, as potential moderators. Variability in mental health assessment tools and fall reporting methods contributed to heterogeneity in results. This review will synthesize the current body of evidence on the association between mental health and falls, assess methodological quality, and highlight gaps for future research. The findings will inform clinical guidelines and intervention strategies to improve fall prevention and mental health management in aging populations.