Summary Many falls occur among older adults with no traditional risk factors. We examined potential independent effects of lifestyle on fall risk. Not smoking and going outdoors frequently or infrequently were independently associated with more falls, indicating lifestyle-related behavioral and environmental risk factors are important causes of falls in older women. Introduction Physical and lifestyle risk factors for falls and population attributable risks (PAR) were examined. Methods We conducted a 4-year prospective study of 8,378 community-dwelling women (mean age=71 years, SD=3) enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Data on number of falls were self-reported every 4 months. Fall rates were calculated (# falls/woman-years). Poisson regression was used to estimate relative risks (RR). Protective physical factors (p≤0.05 for all) included good visual acuity (RR=0.87, per 2 SD) and good balance (RR= 0.85 vs. poor). Lifestyle predicted fewer falls including current smoking (RR=0.76), going outdoors at least twice weekly but not more than once a day (RR=0.89 and vs. twice daily). High physical activity was associated with more falls but only among IADL impaired women. Five potentially modifiable physical risk factors had PAR≥5%. Conclusions Fall interventions addressing modifiable physical risk factors with PAR≥5% while considering environmental/ behavioral risk factors are indicated.
In REF ) the authors examined potential independent effects of lifestyle on fall risk.
Lifestyle predicts falls independent of physical risk factors
Osteoporosis International
Osteoporosis International
Medicine