title: Prevalence of falls and the association with knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spondylosis as well as knee and lower back pain in Japanese men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is little information on falls by sex and age strata in Japan, and few factors associated with falls have been established. However, the association between bone and joint diseases and falls remains unclear. We examined prevalence of falls by sex and age strata, determined its association with radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and lumbar spine, and determined knee and lower back pain after single and multiple falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire assessed the number of falls during 12 months preceding baseline. Knee and lumbar spine radiographs were read by Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade; radiographic knee OA and lumbar spondylosis were defined as a K/L grade of 3 or 4. Knee and lower back pain were estimated by an interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 587 men and 1,088 women (mean ± SD age 65.3 ± 12.0 years) were analyzed. During 1 year, 79 (13.5%) men and 207 (19.0%) women reported at least 1 fall. With increasing age, the prevalence of multiple falls was higher in women, but lower in elderly men age >60 years. In men, few factors were significantly associated with falls. In women, radiographic knee OA and lumbar spondylosis, as well as knee and lower back pain, were significantly associated with multiple falls without adjustment. Lower back pain and knee pain were independently associated with multiple falls in women after adjustment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower back pain and knee pain were significantly associated with multiple falls in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Motor System Medicine, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. murakis-ort@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muraki
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akune
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: En-Yo
authors.forename: Munehito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors