title: Falls in RAC-OST-POL Study: epidemiological study in postmenopausal women aged over 55 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Falls are often noted in elderly women. They may have serious clinical consequences. The aim of the study is the presentation of epidemiological data on falls in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 978 women in mean age 65.9 ± 7.6 years from the population of Raciborz district were included. In a questionnaire the following data were gathered: falls in last 12 months, place of stay, kind of job, marital status, education, smoking, underlying diseases, and used medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Falls occurred in 328 women (33.5%). The number of falls correlated positively with increasing age, (r = 0.13, p < 0.0001). The falls rate was not related to weight and height, but weak, significant correlation with body mass index was noted (r = 0.076, p< 0.05). Among 286 women with prior osteoporotic fracture falls were present in 40.9%, which was significantly more than the 30.4% seen in women without fracture (Chi-square test; 10.05; df = 1; p < 0.01). Falls were fewer often among women from the city of Raciborz (29.8%) than in women from the rural population (39.7%). After adjustment for age, rural stay, diabetes type 1, renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, and depression revealed influence on falls occurrence. As was shown by logistic regression, age, rural stay, prior fracture, diabetes type 1, bronchial asthma, and depression increased the risk of fall. The cumulative number of these risk factors correlated with the number of falls (r = 0.22, p < 0.000001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Falls are common among postmenopausal women, and their occurrence is modified by several factors including age, place of stay, and some co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry, Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Diabetology and Nephrology, Zabrze, Poland. osteolesna@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pluskiewicz
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czekajło
authors.forename: Władysław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grzeszczak
authors.forename: Bogna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drozdzowska
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: epidemiology; falls; women