Action Seniors! Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Secondary Falls Prevention Strategy Among Community-Dwelling Older Fallers

The Belgian physiotherapy reimbursement criteria for fall prevention fails in screening appropriately fall-prone community-dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVES

The incidence of falling in older adults has remained unchanged over the past decades, despite evidence-based prevention initiatives. Therefore, it is appropriate to reflect on the current screening approach for preventive initiatives. The objective of this study was to determine whether the multifactorial algorithm proposed by Lusardi et al. (2017) exhibits superior predictive validity compared to the currently employed algorithm by the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI).

METHODS

The current study includes a secondary analysis of data collected from a falls-related study in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Ghent University to compare the predictive validity of the two algorithms. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated to ascertain which algorithm is more accurate.

RESULTS

The database included a total of 94 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 76 years ±7.4, 35% male). Thirty-nine participants experienced at least one fall in the 8 month follow up. Lusardi's approach has a higher sensitivity score (89.7% compared to 10.3%) and negative predictive value (89.9% compared to 61.1%), but a lower specificity score (61.8% compared to 100%) and positive predictive value (62.2% compared to 100%) than the NIHDI approach. The AUC is 0.76 for Lusardi's approach and 0.55 for the NIHDI approach.

CONCLUSION

The use of the multifactorial algorithm proposed by Lusardi et al. may be significant and more accurate in identifying adults at risk to falls. Further research is needed particularly with a larger, more heterogenous group of older adults.

Supporting physical activity for mobility in older adults with mobility limitations (SuPA Mobility): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Limited mobility in older adults consistently predicts both morbidity and mortality. As individuals age, the rates of mobility disability increase from 1.0% in people aged 15-24 to 20.6% in adults over 65 years of age. Physical activity can effectively improve mobility in older adults, yet many older adults do not engage in sufficient physical activity. Evidence shows that increasing physical activity by 50 min of moderate intensity physical activity in sedentary older adults with mobility limitations can improve mobility and reduce the incidence of mobility disability. To maximize the healthy life span of older adults, it is necessary to find effective and efficient interventions that can be delivered widely to prevent mobility limitations, increase physical activity participation, and improve quality of life in older adults. We propose a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of a physical activity health coaching intervention on mobility in older adults with mobility limitations.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial among 290 (145 per group) community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations, aged 70-89 years old, will compare the effect of a physical activity health coaching intervention versus a general healthy aging education program on mobility, as assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery. The physical activity health coaching intervention will be delivered by exercise individuals who are trained in Brief Action Planning. The coaches will use evidence-based behavior change techniques including goal-setting, action planning, self-monitoring, and feedback to improve participation in physical activity by a known dose of 50 min per week. There will be a total of 9 health coaching or education sessions delivered over 26 weeks with a subsequent 26-week follow-up period, wherein both groups will receive the same duration and frequency of study visits and activities.

DISCUSSION

The consequences of limited mobility pose a significant burden on the quality of life of older adults. Our trial is novel in that it investigates implementing a dose of physical activity that is known to improve mobility in older adults utilizing a health coaching intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: NCT05978336; registered on 28 July 2023.

Measurement properties of the EQ-5D in populations with a mean age of ≥ 75 years: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Healthcare interventions for middle-old and oldest-old individuals are often (economically) evaluated using the EQ-5D to measure health-related quality of life (HrQoL). This requires sufficient measurement properties of the EQ-5D. Therefore, the current study aimed to systematically review studies assessing the measurement properties of the EQ-5D in this population.

METHODS

The databases PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Embase, and EconLit were searched for studies providing empirical evidence of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness of the EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L in samples with a mean age ≥ 75 years. Studies were selected by two independent reviewers, and the methodological quality was assessed using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist. Results were rated against updated criteria for good measurement properties (sufficient, insufficient, inconsistent, indeterminate). The evidence was summarized, and the quality of evidence was graded using a modified GRADE approach.

RESULTS

For both EQ-5D versions, high-quality evidence for sufficient convergent validity was found. Known-groups validity was sufficient for the EQ-5D-5L (high-quality evidence), whereas the results were inconsistent for the EQ-5D-3L. Results regarding the reliability were inconsistent (EQ-5D-3L) or entirely lacking (EQ-5D-5L). Responsiveness based on correlations of change scores with instruments measuring related/similar constructs was insufficient for the EQ-5D-3L (high-quality evidence). For the EQ-5D-5L, the available evidence on responsiveness to change in (Hr)QoL instruments was limited.

CONCLUSION

Since the responsiveness of the EQ-5D in a population of middle-old and oldest-old individuals was questionable, either using additional instruments or considering the use of an alternative, more comprehensive instrument of (Hr)QoL might be advisable, especially for economic evaluations.

Economic evaluations of fall prevention exercise programs: a systematic review

Objective

To investigate cost-effectiveness and costs of fall prevention exercise programmes for older adults.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, National Institute for Health Research Economic Evaluation Database, Health Technology Assessment database, Tufts Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, Research Papers in Economics and EconLit (inception to May 2022).

Eligibility criteria for study selection

Economic evaluations (trial-based or model-based) and costing studies investigating fall prevention exercise programmes versus no intervention or usual care for older adults living in the community or care facilities, and reporting incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for fall-related outcomes or quality-adjusted life years (QALY, expressed as cost/QALY) and/or intervention costs.

Results

31 studies were included. For community-dwelling older adults (21 economic evaluations, 6 costing studies), results ranged from more effective and less costly (dominant) interventions up to an ICER of US$279 802/QALY gained and US$11 986/fall prevented (US$ in 2020). Assuming an arbitrary willingness-to-pay threshold (US$100 000/QALY), most results (17/24) were considered cost-effective (moderate certainty). The greatest value for money (lower ICER/QALY gained and fall prevented) appeared to accrue for older adults and those with high fall risk, but unsupervised exercise appeared to offer poor value for money (higher ICER/QALY). For care facilities (two economic evaluations, two costing studies), ICERs ranged from dominant (low certainty) to US$35/fall prevented (moderate certainty). Overall, intervention costs varied and were poorly reported.

Conclusions

Most economic evaluations investigated fall prevention exercise programmes for older adults living in the community. There is moderate certainty evidence that fall prevention exercise programmes are likely to be cost-effective. The evidence for older adults living in care facilities is more limited but promising.

PROSPERO registration number

PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020178023.

Comparing the cost-effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Programme among older women and men: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Objective

Using stratified analyses, we examined the cost-effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP), from a health care system perspective, among older women and men who have previously fallen.

Methods

This study was a secondary stratified analysis (by women and men), of a 12-month prospective economic evaluation of a randomized clinical trial (OEP compared with usual care). Three hundred and forty four community-dwelling older adults (≥70; 172 OEP (110 women; 62 men), 172 usual care (119 women; 53 men)) who sustained a fall in the past 12 months and received a baseline assessment at the Vancouver Falls Prevention Clinic, Canada were included. A gender by OEP/usual care interaction was examined for the falls incidence rate ratio (IRR). Outcome measures stratified by gender included: falls IRR, incremental cost-per fall prevented (ICER), incremental cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY, ICUR) gained, and mean total health care resource utilization costs.

Results

Men were frailer than women at baseline. Men incurred higher mean total healthcare costs $6794 (SD: $11906)). There was no significant gender by OEP/usual care interaction on falls IRR. The efficacy of the OEP did not vary by gender. The adjusted IRR for the OEP group demonstrated a 39% (IRR: 0.61, CI: 0.40–0.93) significant reduction in falls among men but not women (32% reduction (IRR: 0.69, CI: 0.47–1.02)). The ICER showed the OEP was effective in preventing falls and less costly for men, while it was costlier for women by $42. The ICUR showed the OEP did not impact quality of life.

Conclusion

Future studies should explore gender factors (i.e., health seeking behaviours, gender related frailty) that may explain observed variation in the cost-effectiveness of the OEP as a secondary falls prevention strategy.

Trial registrations

ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System

Identifier: NCT01029171; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01029171

Identifier: NCT00323596; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00323596

The Effect of Individualized Fall Prevention Programs on Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review

An alarming rate of injurious falls among older adults warrants proactive measures to reduce falls and fall risk. The purpose of this article was to examine and synthesize the literature as it relates to programmatic components and clinical outcomes of individualized fall prevention programs on community-dwelling older adults. A literature search of four databases was performed using search strategies and terms unique to each database. Title, abstract, and full article reviews were performed to assure inclusion and exclusion criteria were met. Data were analyzed for type of study, program providers, interventions and strategies used to deliver the program, assessments used, and statistically significant outcomes. Queries resulted in 410 articles and 32 met all inclusion criteria (19 controlled trials and 13 quasi-experimental). Physical therapists were part of the provider team in 23 (72%) studies and the only provider in 10 (31%). There was substantial heterogeneity in procedures and outcome measures. Most common procedures were balance assessments (n=30), individualized balance exercises (n=29), cognition (n=21), home and vision assessments (n=16), specific educational modules (n=15), referrals to other providers/community programs (n=8), and motivational interviewing (n=7). Frequency of falls improved for eight of 13 (61.5%) controlled trials and four of five (80%) quasi-experimental studies. Balance and function improved in six of 11 (54.5%) controlled trials and in each of the six (100%) quasi-experimental studies. Strength improved in three of seven (43%) controlled trials and four of five (75%) quasi-experimental studies. While many programs improved falls and balance of older adults, there was no conclusive evidence as to which assessments and interventions were optimal to deliver as individualized fall prevention programming. The skill of a physical therapist and measures of fall frequency, balance, and function were common among the majority of studies reviewed. Despite the variability among programs, there is emerging evidence that individualized, multimodal fall prevention programs may improve fall risk of community-dwelling older adults and convenient access to these programs should be emphasized.

Cost-Effectiveness of a Group vs Individually Delivered Exercise Program in Community-Dwelling Persons Aged ≥70 Years

OBJECTIVES

Interventions aimed at reducing falls and physical inactivity could alleviate the economic burden attributable to these factors. The study aimed to analyze the cost-effectiveness of a group-delivered version of the Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise Program compared with an individually delivered program version.

DESIGN

An economic evaluation conducted alongside the LiFE-is-LiFE randomized non-inferiority trial.

INTERVENTIONS

Group and individually delivered version of a program consisting of strength and balance exercises integrated into everyday activities to prevent falls.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

309 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥70 years) at risk of falling recruited around Heidelberg and Stuttgart (Germany).

METHODS

Cost-effectiveness of the group program was assessed over 6 months using different effect measures [quality-adjusted life years (QALYs, EQ-5D-5L), physical activity (mean number of steps/day), and falls] and cost perspectives (societal and payer's). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were determined, and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were constructed.

RESULTS

From a societal perspective, mean costs, the number of falls, and the number of steps/day were somewhat higher in the group program, whereas QALYs were almost identical between the 2 interventions. From the payer's perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the group compared to the individual program were €56,733 per QALY and €4755 per fall prevented. Based on the cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, the cost-effectiveness of the group program had to be rated as uncertain for both effect measures and perspectives. In contrast, it demonstrated cost-effectiveness for increasing physical activity at willingness-to-pay values per additional 1000 steps/day of €1600 (societal perspective) or €600 (payer's perspective).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Compared to the individual program, the group program might be cost-effective for increasing physical activity in older adults but was unlikely to be cost-effective with regard to QALY or for preventing falls. The cost-effectiveness should be evaluated long-term and compared to a regular care group.