Pamela Carrer1, Caterina Trevisan2, Alessandro Franchin1, Elisabetta Della Volpe1, Andrea Rancan1, Bruno Micael Zanforlini1, Stefania Maggi3, Marianna Noale3, Maria Chiara Corti4, Egle Perissinotto5, Enzo Manzato6, Giuseppe Sergi1. 1. Department of Medicine (DIMED), Geriatrics Division, University of Padova, Italy. 2. Department of Medicine (DIMED), Geriatrics Division, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address: caterina.trevisan.5@phd.unipd.it. 3. National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy. 4. Epidemiological System of the Veneto Region, Padova, Italy. 5. Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, University of Padova, Italy. 6. Department of Medicine (DIMED), Geriatrics Division, University of Padova, Italy; National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) on fall risk in older age is still unclear, as is the effect of sex on any relationship between the two. Our aim was to evaluate the association between DHEA-S and the risk of falls and risk of recurrent falls in community-dwelling older men and women. METHODS: We included 1949 (781 M, 1168 F) older adults enrolled in the Progetto Veneto Anziani study. Baseline serum DHEA-S levels were analyzed by immunoassay. The number of falls reported in the year preceding the 4.4-year follow-up assessment was collected. The association between DHEA-S and falls was analyzed by multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders and considering death as alternative outcome. RESULTS: After the follow-up, 548 (36.8%) individuals reported at least one fall in the previous year, and 214 (14.4%) reported ≥2 falls (recurrent falls). Each 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in log-transformed DHEA-S level reduced the odds of experiencing at least one fall by 9% (95%CI:0.88-0.95), and the risk of recurrent falls by 16% (95%CI:0.79-0.89). The highest DHEA-S tertile was 27% (95%CI:0.65-0.83) less likely to experience recurrent falls than the lowest tertile. The analyses, stratified by sex, suggested a strong association between DHEA-S and the fall risk for women (OR = 0.91; 95%CI:0.87-0.95 for at least one fall; OR = 0.83, 95%CI:0.78-0.89 for recurrent falls per each 1-SD increase in log-transformed DHEA-S); non-significant results were observed among men. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of DHEA-S are associated with a lower risk of falls and recurrent falls in older people, especially women.
BACKGROUND: The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) on fall risk in older age is still unclear, as is the effect of sex on any relationship between the two. Our aim was to evaluate the association between DHEA-S and the risk of falls and risk of recurrent falls in community-dwelling older men and women. METHODS: We included 1949 (781 M, 1168 F) older adults enrolled in the Progetto Veneto Anziani study. Baseline serum DHEA-S levels were analyzed by immunoassay. The number of falls reported in the year preceding the 4.4-year follow-up assessment was collected. The association between DHEA-S and falls was analyzed by multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders and considering death as alternative outcome. RESULTS: After the follow-up, 548 (36.8%) individuals reported at least one fall in the previous year, and 214 (14.4%) reported ≥2 falls (recurrent falls). Each 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in log-transformed DHEA-S level reduced the odds of experiencing at least one fall by 9% (95%CI:0.88-0.95), and the risk of recurrent falls by 16% (95%CI:0.79-0.89). The highest DHEA-S tertile was 27% (95%CI:0.65-0.83) less likely to experience recurrent falls than the lowest tertile. The analyses, stratified by sex, suggested a strong association between DHEA-S and the fall risk for women (OR = 0.91; 95%CI:0.87-0.95 for at least one fall; OR = 0.83, 95%CI:0.78-0.89 for recurrent falls per each 1-SD increase in log-transformed DHEA-S); non-significant results were observed among men. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of DHEA-S are associated with a lower risk of falls and recurrent falls in older people, especially women.
Authors: M Hill; Z Třískala; P Honců; M Krejčí; J Kajzar; M Bičíková; L Ondřejíková; D Jandová; I Sterzl Journal: Physiol Res Date: 2020-09-30 Impact factor: 1.881