Does lower-extremity arterial disease predict future falling among older men and women?
The purpose of this study was to determine whether lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an independent risk factor for falls among older persons. Men and women 55 years old and older participated. Subjects with PAD (n = 86) were identified from a noninvasive vascular laboratory and a general medicine practice. Randomly selected controls without PAD (n = 82) were identified from the same medicine practice. Subjects were categorized into PAD (ankle brachial index, <0.90) or controls (ankle brachial index, 0.90 to 1.50). Subjects underwent a comprehensive baseline evaluation for fall risk. Prospective fall data were obtained using monthly mail-in postcards and structured telephone interviews over a mean follow-up of 9.6 +/- 2.9 months. Two independent investigators blinded to PAD status reviewed each fall incident for its eligibility. A total of 37 subjects (22%) had at least 1 eligible fall. In an unadjusted Cox regression model, the relative risk of falling was lower among PAD subjects than among controls (relative risk, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.28 to 1.06). After adjustment for age, gender, history of frequent falls in the last year, number of comorbidities, and balance and gait abnormalities, PAD was significantly associated with a lower risk of falling (relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 0.87) as compared with controls. PAD is associated with a lower risk of falling as compared with persons without PAD among older men and women. Future study is needed to determine whether reduced levels of physical activity among patients with PAD account for the lower rate of falling observed here.
Arseven
Adnan
A
Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. a-arseven@northwestern.edu
Guralnik
Jack M
JM
O'Brien Kaleba
Erin
E
Liu
Kiang
K
Chan
Cheeling
C
McDermott
Mary McGrae
MM
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors