[Epidemiology of bone and joint disease - the present and future - . Epidemiology of falls].
A longitudinal analysis using a population-based cohort study known as Research on Osteoarthritis/osteoporosis Against Disability (ROAD) clarified the associations of physical performance and bone and joint diseases with falls. A total of 452 men and 896 women were analyzed in the present study (mean age, 63.9 years). A questionnaire was used to assess the number of falls during the 3-year follow-up. Grip strength, 6-m walking time, and chair stand time were measured at baseline. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and lumbar spondylosis were defined as Kellgren Lawrence = 3 or 4. Vertebral fracture (VFx) was assessed with the Japanese Society of Bone and Mineral Research criteria. Knee and lower back pain were estimated by an interview. During a 3-year follow-up, 17.4% men and 24.1% women reported at least one fall. Multinomial logistic regression analysis after adjustment for age and BMI showed that a longer 6-m walking time was a risk factor for multiple falls in men and women. Knee pan was also a risk factor for multiple falls in women. Walking time and knee pain may be a simple and quick option for measuring the risk of falling.
Department of Clinical Motor System Medicine, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Shigeyuki
S
Muraki
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors