posted on 2023-09-01, 15:19authored byLee Smith, Guillermo Lopez-Sanchez, Nicola Veronese, Pinar Soysal, Masoud Rahmati, Louis Jacob, Karel Kostev, Josep Maria Haro, Abdullah Ahmed Alghamdi, Laurie T. Butler, Yvonne A. Barnett, Helen Keyes, Mark Tully, Jae Il Shin, Ai Koyanagi
Background
There is a scarcity of studies examining the longitudinal relationship between dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO; ie, impairment in muscle strength and high waist circumference) and future fall risk. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prospective association between DAO at baseline and falls occurring during 2 years of follow-up in a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older individuals from Ireland.
Methods
Data from 2 consecutive waves of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing survey were analyzed. Dynapenia was defined as handgrip strength of <26 kg for men and <16 kg for women. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference of >88 cm for women and >102 cm for men. DAO was assessed at Wave 1 (2009–2011) and was defined as having both dynapenia and abdominal obesity. Falls occurring between Wave 1 and Wave 2 (2012–2013) were self-reported. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted.
Results
Data on 5 275 individuals aged ≥50 years were analyzed (mean [standard deviation {SD}] age 63.2 [8.9] years; 48.8% males). After adjustment for potential confounders, compared to no dynapenia and no abdominal obesity at baseline, DAO was significantly associated with 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–1.89) times higher odds for falls at 2-year follow-up. Dynapenia alone (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08; 95% CI: 0.84–1.40) and abdominal obesity alone (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 0.91–1.29) were not significantly associated with falls at follow-up.
Conclusions
DAO increased the risk for falls among middle-aged and older adults in Ireland. Interventions to prevent or reverse DAO may be beneficial for fall reduction.
History
Refereed
Yes
Publication title
Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences