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Loss of height predicts fall risk in elderly Japanese: a prospective cohort study

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Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to explore whether height loss is associated with future falls and whether the combination of height loss and fall experience is associated with future falls.

Materials and methods

In this prospective observational study, a total of 765 individuals (354 men, 411 women) agreed to join the study. Baseline data on demographics, comorbidities, physical performance, and previous falls were assessed. Height loss was calculated as the difference between the self-reported height at a younger age and the current height and was divided into two groups: < 2 cm and ≥ 2 cm. Approximately 15 months after the baseline evaluation, follow-up questionnaires were used to assess the fall history. Participants were classified as either “non-fallers” or “fallers.” Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between falls and each factor and to obtain adjusted odds ratio estimates.

Results

The follow-up questionnaire was returned by 668 participants, 74 of whom (11.1%) fell at least once during the observation period. Multiple logistic regression analysis found that height loss of > 2 cm was a significant predictor of future falls, even after adjusting for other factors. Additionally, the combination of height loss and previous falls was a risk factor for falls.

Conclusions

We suggest that height loss of ≥ 2 cm is a predictor of future falls in older adults, and the combination of height loss and fall experiences may be a useful screening tool for determining fall risk.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI, Grant Numbers JP25870680, JP15K21332, and 18K02225 from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Further, the study was partly supported by grants from The Japan Foundation for Aging and Health (2015-12, 2016-03), and research aids from Health and Japanese Society for Musculoskeletal Medicine (2013, Director, Hideaki Ishibashi). The authors would like to thank Toshiki Hosoi, Yuri Hasuda, Kennichi Ogiwara, and Masaru Tonegawa for skilled technical assistance and many helpful discussions. Furthermore, the authors thank the staff of the Public Office in Ina Town and the staff of the rehabilitation department of Ina Hospital for assistance with the measurements.

Funding

JSPS KAKENHI (JP25870680, JP15K21332, 18K02225), Japan Foundation for Aging and Health (2015-12, 2016-03), research aids from Health and Japanese Society for Musculoskeletal Medicine.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy Faculty of Health and Medical Care, Saitama Medical University, 981, Kawakado, Iruma, Saitama, 350-0436, Japan

    Tomoyuki Arai, Hiroaki Fujita, Kohei Maruya & Yasuhiro Morita

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Japan University of Health Science, 2-555, Suga, Satte, Saitama, Japan

    Ryoma Asahi

  3. Ina Hospital Orthopedics, 9419, Ina, Kitaadati, Saitama, 362-0806, Japan

    Hideaki Ishibasi

Authors
  1. Tomoyuki Arai
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  2. Hiroaki Fujita
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  3. Kohei Maruya
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  4. Yasuhiro Morita
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  5. Ryoma Asahi
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  6. Hideaki Ishibasi
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Contributions

TA conceived and designed the experiments, acquired the data, analyzed and/or interpreted the data, prepared figures and/or tables, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, and approved the final draft. HF and HI conceived and designed the experiments, acquired the data, analyzed and/or interpreted the data, gave advice on methodology, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and approved the final draft. KM, YM, and RA conceived and designed the experiments, acquired the data, analyzed and/or interpreted the data, and approved the final draft.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomoyuki Arai.

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Arai, T., Fujita, H., Maruya, K. et al. Loss of height predicts fall risk in elderly Japanese: a prospective cohort study. J Bone Miner Metab 41, 88–94 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-022-01383-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-022-01383-x

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