Falls and fractures in women at work.
BACKGROUND
Older women have been observed to have more serious injury particularly fractures after slips, trips or falls at the workplace. It is unclear whether this excess reflects a greater likelihood of falling or a greater proportion presenting with fractures once the fall has occurred.


METHODS
Two studies were carried out: Study A, of 130 women who fell at work and matched referents, and Study B, of 120 women who fell at work and sustained a major fracture and 314 matched referents who fell but for whom no fracture was recorded. In Study A, the workplace of the case and referent was observed, questionnaires completed and objective health measures carried out. Study B relied on information obtained from the subject by postal questionnaire.


RESULTS
Women who fell were older than referents matched on workplace and occupation, but age did not continue to be a significant factor after allowing for bodyweight and use of spectacles. Fractures were more common in older women who fell, particularly post-menopausal women with low body mass. The risk of fracture increased steadily with age without an obvious discontinuity around the likely age of menopause.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed excess of fractures in older women falling at work appeared to be explained by the greater risk of fracture among those who fell.
Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, UK. ncherry@ualberta.ca
Nicola
N
Cherry
Gordon
G
Parker
Roseanne
R
McNamee
Sonya
S
Wall
Yiqun
Y
Chen
Jan
J
Robinson
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors