Wei Li1, Michelle Gamber2, Jingnan Han3, Wenjie Sun1, Tong Yu4. 1. Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida. 2. School of Health Professions, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia. 3. Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama. 4. Department of Medical Insurance, School of Humanities and Management, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China. Electronic address: yutong@wnmc.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-induced injuries in elderly people are common worldwide. However, few reports have examined the association between body pain and fall in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The objective of this study is to access the association between pain and fall among middle-aged and older Chinese. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from respondents who were middle-aged and older (over 45 years old). A logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the association between body pain and fall, after controlling for confounders. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, health status and comorbidity, those participants who had pain were 73% more likely to report falls than those who did not have pain (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.56-1.92). Elder age was associated with a higher risk of fall (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.47-2.13). Comparing to female, male was associated with a lower risk of fall (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.74). Lifestyle such as drinking status, self-reported health status, chronic diseases, vision impairment and disability were significantly associated with fall. CONCLUSION: Body pain is significantly associated with fall among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Appropriate pain management programs and policies are needed in fall prevention.
BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-induced injuries in elderly people are common worldwide. However, few reports have examined the association between body pain and fall in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The objective of this study is to access the association between pain and fall among middle-aged and older Chinese. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from respondents who were middle-aged and older (over 45 years old). A logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the association between body pain and fall, after controlling for confounders. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, health status and comorbidity, those participants who had pain were 73% more likely to report falls than those who did not have pain (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.56-1.92). Elder age was associated with a higher risk of fall (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.47-2.13). Comparing to female, male was associated with a lower risk of fall (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.74). Lifestyle such as drinking status, self-reported health status, chronic diseases, vision impairment and disability were significantly associated with fall. CONCLUSION: Body pain is significantly associated with fall among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Appropriate pain management programs and policies are needed in fall prevention.