Citation

Hooker ER, Shrestha S, Lee CG, Cawthon PM, Abrahamson M, Ensrud K, Stefanick ML, Dam TTL, Marshall LM, Orwoll ES, Nielson CM. J. Aging Health 2016; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0898264316660412

PMID

27469600

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate fall rates across body mass index (BMI) categories by age group, considering physical performance and comorbidities.

METHOD: In the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, 5,834 men aged ≥65 reported falls every 4 months over 4.8 (±0.8) years. Adjusted associations between BMI and an incident fall were tested using mixed-effects models.

RESULTS: The fall rate (0.66/man-year overall, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.65, 0.67]) was lowest in the youngest, normal weight men (0.44/man-year, 95% CI = [0.41, 0.47]) and greatest in the oldest, highest BMI men (1.47 falls/man-year, 95% CI = [1.22, 1.76]). Obesity was associated with a 24% to 92% increased fall risk in men below 80 (ptrend ≤.0001, p for interaction by age =.03). Only adjustment for dynamic balance test altered the BMI-falls association substantially.

DISCUSSION: Obesity was independently associated with higher fall rates in men 65 to 80 years old. Narrow walk time, a measure of gait stability, may mediate the association.

© The Author(s) 2016.

Language: en