Evaluation of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Fall Prevention and Management for Older Adults

Key Points Question What are the most common consistent recommendations in fall prevention clinical practice guidelines, across settings, for adults 60 years or older? Findings In this systematic review of 198 recommendations across 15 selected guidelines, most guidelines recommended fall risk stratification, assessment tools, fractures or osteoporosis management, multifactorial interventions, medication review, exercise, physiotherapy referral, environment modification, and vison, footwear, and cardiovascular interventions. Recommendations on vitamin D supplementation, addressing cognitive factors, and education were inconsistent, whereas hip protectors, digital technology, clinical applicability, and stakeholder involvement were less commonly addressed. Meaning This systematic review found that agreement was high on several recommendations for fall prevention clinical practice guidelines for older adults, but certain areas, including stakeholder perspectives and clinical applicability, were often not addressed.