A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations of Fall Prevention Interventions for Community-Dwelling Older People

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to identify the best cost-effective fall prevention measures for 65-year-old and older community-dwelling older adults. Eligibility criteria included being 65 or older, residing in the community, experiencing primary or recurrent falls, and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of any fall prevention intervention. Web of Science, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Compliance Database, Cinahl Plus, Ovid (Medline), PubMed, ProQuest, Wiley Online, National Health Services Economic Evaluation Databases, EBSCOhost, and PubMed databases were scanned for this study. The risk of bias in cost-effectiveness study reviews was assessed using the Consensus Health Economics Criteria checklist and the Review Manager software. Thus, twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria (multifactorial program: 12, exercises program: 6, home assessment program: 3, vitamin D supplement: 1). Analyzing those research results, it was revealed that preventive interventions were cost-effective, cost-saving, or cost-beneficial in 17 of them. The Falls Rehabilitation Program, the Home Hazard Reduction Program, and the Community-Based Interventions Targeting Falls Prevention were identified as net cost savings in studies suggesting the assessment of treatments.