title: Risk factors for falls among seniors: implications of gender.
abstract: Despite extensive literature on falls among seniors, little is known about gender-specific risk factors. To determine the prevalence of falls by gender and sociodemographic, lifestyle/behavioral, and medical factors, we conducted a cross-sectional study in a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults who were 65 years of age or older (n = 14,881) from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Healthy Aging (2008-2009). Logistic regression models were applied to investigate gender-specific associations between potential risk factors and falls. In men, stroke (odds ratio (OR) = 1.91), nutritional risk (OR = 1.86), post-secondary school degree (OR = 1.68), eye disorder (OR = 1.35), widowed/separated/divorced marital status (OR = 1.28), and arthritis (OR = 1.27) were independently associated with significantly higher odds of falls. In women, significant independent correlates of falls included stroke (OR = 1.53), age of 85 years or older (OR = 1.51), nutritional risk (OR = 1.39), consumption of at least 1 alcoholic drink per week (OR = 1.39), use of 5 or more medications (OR = 1.36), arthritis (OR = 1.36), diabetes (OR = 1.31), and osteoporosis (OR = 1.22). Higher physical activity levels were protective in both genders, and higher household income was protective in women. Gender should be considered when planning fall prevention strategies.
authors.forename: Vicky C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Minh T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Do
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019338:Polypharmacy; D004856:Postural Balance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Canada; aged; falls; gender; risk factors