Late-life anemia is associated with increased risk of recurrent falls.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether anemia is associated with a higher incidence of recurrent falls.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Community-dwelling sample in The Netherlands.


METHODS
Three hundred ninety-four participants aged 65 to 88 from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.


METHODS
Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization criteria as a hemoglobin concentration less than 12 g/dL in women and less than 13 g/dL in men. Falls were prospectively determined using fall calendars that participants filled out weekly for 3 years. Recurrent fallers were identified as those who fell at least two times within 6 months during the 3-year follow-up.


RESULTS
Of the 394 persons, 11.9% (18 women and 29 men) had anemia. The incidence of recurrent falls was 38.3% of anemic persons versus 19.6% of nonanemic persons (P=.004). After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, and diseases, anemia was significantly associated with a 1.91 times greater risk for recurrent falls (95% confidence interval=1.09-3.36). Poor physical function (indicated by muscle strength, physical performance, and limitations) partly mediated the association between anemia and incidence of recurrent falls.


CONCLUSIONS
Late-life anemia is common and associated with twice the risk of recurrent falls. Muscle weakness and poor physical performance appear to partly mediate this association.
Penninx
Brenda W J H
BW
Institute of Research in Extramural Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. brendap@ggzba.nl
Pluijm
Saskia M F
SM
Lips
Paul
P
Woodman
Richard
R
Miedema
Kor
K
Guralnik
Jack M
JM
Deeg
Dorly J H
DJ
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors