title: Ethnicity and falls in older men: low rate of falls in Italian-born men in Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  past research suggests that fall rates in older persons may differ by ethnicity. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of falls between older male Italian-born immigrants and their Australian-born counterparts.
  
  
  METHODS
  this study analysed data from 335 Italian-born and 848 Australian-born men aged 70 years and over participating in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). Prospective falls data were collected by 4 monthly phone calls (mean follow-up time: 26.7 months). Negative binomial regression compared falls incidence rate ratios (IRR) between the two groups of men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  there were 37 (11%) Italian-born men and 185 (22%) Australian-born men who had two or more falls during follow-up (P < 0.001). Negative binomial analysis demonstrated that Italian-born men had half the incidence rate of falls compared with Australian-born men (IRR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.38-0.67). After adjustment for falls risk factors, Italian-born men remained significantly less likely to fall with a 43% lower fall rate (IRR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  older male Italian-born immigrants are less likely to fall than their Australian-born counterparts. Differences in fall rates between the two groups are not explained by established falls risk factors.
authors: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building (A27), Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. fiona.stanaway@sydney.edu.au
authors: Fiona F
authors: FF
authors: Stanaway
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Cumming
authors: Vasi
authors: V
authors: Naganathan
authors: Fiona M
authors: FM
authors: Blyth
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Handelsman
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Le Couteur
authors: Louise M
authors: LM
authors: Waite
authors: Helen M
authors: HM
authors: Creasey
authors: Markus J
authors: MJ
authors: Seibel
authors: Philip N
authors: PN
authors: Sambrook
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors