ORs were generally higher for recurrent fallers than for all fallers .
This meta- analysis provides comprehensive evidence -based assessment of risk factors for falls in older people , confirming their multifactorial etiology .
Some nonspecific indicators of high baseline risk were also strong predictors of the risk of falling
BACKGROUND Falls are the main cause of accidental death in persons aged 65 years or older .
Self-reported alcohol consumption and falls in older adults: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of the cardiovascular health study.
OBJECTIVES To assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption and risk of falls in older adults . DESIGN Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses . SETTING Four U.S. communities . PARTICIPANTS A total of 5,841 older adults enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study , an ongoing , population -based , prospect i ve cohort study , participated . MEASUREMENTS  Self-reported alcohol consumption at baseline , self-reported frequent falls at baseline , and the 4-year risk of falls of participants who denied frequent falls at baseline . RESULTS Cross-sectional analysis indicated an apparent inverse association between alcohol consumption and risk of frequent falls ( adjusted odds ratio in consumers of 14 or more drinks per week=0.41 ; 95 % confidence interval (CI)=0.14 - 1.17 ; P for trend=.06 ) , but longitudinal analysis indicated a similar 4-year risk of falls in abstainers and light to moderate drinkers but a 25 % higher risk in consumers of 14 or more drinks per week ( 95 % CI=3 - 52 % ; P for trend=.07 ) . Similar results were found in analyses stratified by age , sex , race , and physical activity . CONCLUSION Consumption of 14 or more drinks per week is associated with an increased risk of subsequent falls in older adults . Cross-sectional studies may fail to identify this risk of heavier drinking , perhaps because older adults at risk for falls decrease their alcohol use over time or because heavier drinkers at risk for falls tend not to enroll in cohort studies . However , because this study relied upon annual reporting of falls , further prospect i ve studies should be conducted to confirm these findings
ORs were generally higher for recurrent fallers than for all fallers .
This meta- analysis provides comprehensive evidence -based assessment of risk factors for falls in older people , confirming their multifactorial etiology .
Some nonspecific indicators of high baseline risk were also strong predictors of the risk of falling
BACKGROUND Falls are the main cause of accidental death in persons aged 65 years or older .