Abstract
Aim:
To compare and contrast falls characteristics between older adults with body mass index of 25.0 kg/m 2 or greater and less than 25.0 kg/m 2 and to further identify potential underlying mechanisms if differences existed.
Subjects and Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study using data from fallers identified during the first wave of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research study. Basic demographics, falls characteristics, fear of falling, medical comorbidities, and lifestyle factors were obtained during a home-based computer-assisted interview, while anthropometric measurements, body composition, and physical performance were collected during the hospital-based health check.
Results:
Of the 302 individuals with 1 or more falls in the previous 12 months, mean age (SD) = 69.6 (7.7) years, 152 individuals (50.3%) were in the body mass index of 25.0 group or greater. Fallers with body mass index of 25.0 or greater were more likely to have fallen in the bedroom and on the stairs (adjusted odds ratio = 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-5.73) and less likely to fall in the afternoon (adjusted odds ratio = 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.83) after adjustment for potential confounders.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that mechanisms of falls may differ in those with excess body weight, who may benefit from specific targeted fall prevention programmes.
To compare and contrast falls characteristics between older adults with body mass index of 25.0 kg/m 2 or greater and less than 25.0 kg/m 2 and to further identify potential underlying mechanisms if differences existed.
Subjects and Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study using data from fallers identified during the first wave of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research study. Basic demographics, falls characteristics, fear of falling, medical comorbidities, and lifestyle factors were obtained during a home-based computer-assisted interview, while anthropometric measurements, body composition, and physical performance were collected during the hospital-based health check.
Results:
Of the 302 individuals with 1 or more falls in the previous 12 months, mean age (SD) = 69.6 (7.7) years, 152 individuals (50.3%) were in the body mass index of 25.0 group or greater. Fallers with body mass index of 25.0 or greater were more likely to have fallen in the bedroom and on the stairs (adjusted odds ratio = 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-5.73) and less likely to fall in the afternoon (adjusted odds ratio = 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.83) after adjustment for potential confounders.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that mechanisms of falls may differ in those with excess body weight, who may benefit from specific targeted fall prevention programmes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 71-78 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jun 2020 |
Bibliographical note
The authors thank the MELoR research team for their help in the participant recruitment and data collection process. In addition, they also thank Professor Fatimah Ibrahim, Dr Mas Sahidayana Mokhtar, and Professor Sajaratulnisah Othman for assisting in data acquisition.This study was funded by a High Impact Research Grant from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia (UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/ASH/02). The authors also acknowledge the financial support provided by the University of Malaya Health and Wellbeing Research Cluster Grand Challenge Research Programme Grant (GC002A-14HTM).The authors have disclosed that they have no significant relationships with, or financial interest in, any commercial companies pertaining to this article.Keywords
- accidental falls
- aged
- body mass
- fracutres
- obesity
- body mass index
- fractures
