Is a Fall Just a Fall: Correlates of Falling in Healthy Older Persons. The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with falling in well‐functioning older people. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analyses of report of falls over the past 12 months using baseline data from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. SETTING: Clinic examinations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or Memphis, Tennessee. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand seventy‐five high‐functioning black and white elderly aged 70 to 79 living in the community. MEASUREMENTS: Physical function assessed using self‐report and performance measures. Health status indicators included diseases, medication use, and body composition measures. RESULTS: Almost one‐quarter (24.1%) of women and 18.3% of men reported at least one fall within the year before the baseline examination. Fallers were more likely to be female; white; report more chronic diseases and medications; and have lower leg strength, poorer balance, slower 400‐meter walk time, and lower muscle mass. In men, multivariate logistic regression models showed white race (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2–1.6), slower 6‐meter walk speed (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.0–1.3), poor standing balance (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0–1.4), inability to do 5 chair stands (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.3–1.9), report of urinary incontinence (UI) (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1–2.0), and mid‐quintile of leg muscle strength (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4–0.9) to be independently associated with report of falling. In women, benzodiazepine use (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0–2.6), UI (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2–1.9), and reported difficulty in rising from a chair (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2–1.6) were associated with past falls. CONCLUSION: Falls history needs to be screened in healthier older adults. Even for well‐functioning older persons, specific correlates of falling can be identified to define those at risk.