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Relationship of Incident Falls with Balance Deficits and Body Composition in Male and Female Community-Dwelling Elders

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

Sarcopenia and obesity are reported risk factors for falls, although the data are not consistent and most studies do not make sex comparisons. We investigated whether falls were associated with balance, gait, and body composition, and whether these relationships are sex-specific.

Design

Secondary analysis of 4-year follow-up data from of the New Mexico Aging Process Study.

Setting

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Participants

307 participants (M, n=122, 75.8 yr. SD5.5; F, n=183, 74.6yr SD6.1).

Measurements

Gait and balance were assessed annually using the Tinetti test. Lean body mass (LBM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), fat free mass (FFM), total fat mass (FM) were assessed annually by DXA. Falls were assessed using bimonthly falls calendars. Hazard ratios (HR) for 2-point worsening in gait and balance score and falls were calculated by Cox proportional hazard for men and women.

Results

Baseline balance deficits, and not body composition, represented the strongest predictor of falls. For the total balance score, the variables with significant sex interactions were ASM (Male-HR 1.02 95%CI 0.60-1.73; Female-HR 1.92 95%CI 1.05-3.52, p=0.03) and FFM (Male-HR 1.04 95%CI 0.64-1.70; Female-HR 1.91 95%CI 1.12-3.24, p=0.04), after adjustment for age, sarcopenia and physical activity. The body composition relationship with balance deficits was U-shaped with the strongest predictors being low LBM in males and high FM in females.

Conclusions

Specific body composition components and balance deficits are risk factors for falls following sex-specific patterns. Sex differences need to be explored and considered in interventions for worsening balance and falls prevention.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

    Debra L. Waters

  2. Department of Mathematics & Statistics and School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA

    C. R. Qualls

  3. Biomedical Research Institute of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA

    C. R. Qualls

  4. Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda – Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    M. Cesari

  5. Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    M. Cesari

  6. Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    Y. Rolland & B. Vellas

  7. Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    L. Vlietstra

  8. Department of Internal and Geriatrics Medicine, Gerontopole, CHU de Toulouse, UMR 1027 INSERM, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France

    B. Vellas

Authors
  1. Debra L. Waters
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  2. C. R. Qualls
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  3. M. Cesari
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  4. Y. Rolland
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  5. L. Vlietstra
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  6. B. Vellas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debra L. Waters.

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Waters, D.L., Qualls, C.R., Cesari, M. et al. Relationship of Incident Falls with Balance Deficits and Body Composition in Male and Female Community-Dwelling Elders. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 9–13 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1087-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1087-4

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