Table 2 Summary of results and subgroup analyses
| Analysis/ GRADE evidence certainty rating | No. of participants / No. of Studies |
Rate Ratio (95% CI) | I2 | Test for sub-group difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall effect of exercise on rate of falls versus control | ||||
| Exercise versus control/ high certainty | 14,306 / 64 | 0.77 (0.71 to 0.83) | 61% | - |
| Subgroup analyses | ||||
| a) Based on type of exercisea | ||||
| Balance, and functional exercises versus control/ high certainty | 7989 / 39 | 0.76 (0.70 to 0.82) | 31% | Chi2 = 18.91, df = 6, P = 0.004, I2 = 68% |
| Resistance exercises versus control/ very low certainty | 327 / 5 | 1.14 (0.67 to 1.97) | 67% | |
| Tai Chi exercise versus control/ moderate certainty | 3196 / 9 | 0.77 (0.61 to 0.97) | 83% | |
| Dance exercise versus control / very low certainty | 522 / 1 | 1.34 (0.98 to 1.83) | – | |
| General physical activity (including walking) training versus control/ very low certainty | 441 / 2 | 1.14 (0.66 to 1.97) | 67% | |
| Multiple categories of exercise (often including, as primary interventions: gait, balance, and functional (task) training plus resistance training versus control/ moderate certainty | 2283 / 15 | 0.72 (0.56 to 0.93) | 65% | |
| b) Based on fall risk at baseline | ||||
| Increased risk of falling | 7872 / 32 | 0.76 (0.69 to 0.84) | 65% |
Chi2 = 0.1, df = 1, P = 0.75, I2 = 65% |
| Not using increased risk of falling as entry criterion | 6434 / 32 | 0.78 (0.68 to 0.89) | 57% | |
| c) Based on age | ||||
| Aged ≥75 years | 3841 / 14 | 0.85 (0.73 to 1.0) | 61% |
Chi2 = 2.29, df = 1, P = 0.13, I2 = 56% |
| Aged < 75 years | 10,465 / 50 | 0.74 (0.68 to 0.81) | 60% | |
| d) Based on setting of the interventions delivered | ||||
| Group | 8909 / 43 | 0.74 (0.67 to 0.83) | 66% |
Chi2 = 1.3, df = 1, P = 0.31, I2 = 3% |
| Individual | 5397 / 23 | 0.81 (0.72 to 0.91) | 47% | |
| e) Based on who delivered the intervention | ||||
| Health professionals (usually physiotherapists) | 5099 / 28 | 0.73 (0.64 to 0.82) | 53% |
Chi2 = 1.2, df = 1, P = 0.27, I2 = 16% |
| Non-health professionals (trained instructors) | 9207 / 36 | 0.79 (0.72 to 0.88) | 65% | |