Racial and Ethnic Difference in Falls Among Older Adults: Results from the California Health Interview Survey

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Racial Ethn Health Disparities
• Personal Author:
  Kwon, Simona C. ; Han, Benjamin H. ; Kranick, Julie A. ; Wyatt, Laura C. ; Blaum, Caroline S. ; Yi, Stella S. ; Trinh-Shevrin, Chau
• Description:
  Background
  
  Research suggests that fall risk among older adults varies by racial/ethnic groups; however, few studies have examined fall risk among Hispanics and Asian American older adults.
  
  Methods
  
  Using 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey data, this study examines falling ≥2 times in the past year by racial/ethnic groups (Asian Americans, Hispanics, and Blacks) aged ≥65, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, body mass index, co-morbidities, and functional limitations. A secondary analysis examines differences in fall risk by English language proficiency and race/ethnicity among Asian Americans and Hispanics.
  
  Results
  
  Asian Americans were significantly less likely to fall compared to non-Hispanic whites, individuals with ≥2 chronic diseases were significantly more likely to fall than individuals with <2 chronic diseases, and many functional limitations were significantly associated with fall risk, when adjusting for all factors. African Americans and Hispanics did not differ significantly from non-Hispanic whites. Analysis adjusting for race/ethnicity and English language proficiency found that limited English proficient Asian Americans were significantly less likely to fall compared to non-Hispanic whites, individuals with ≥2 chronic diseases were significantly more likely to fall than individuals with <2 chronic diseases, and all functional limitations were significantly associated with fall risk, when adjusting for all factors. No differences were found when examining by racial/ethnic and English proficient/limited English proficient groups.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Further research is needed to explore factors associated with fall risks across racial/ethnic groups. Culturally relevant and targeted interventions are needed to prevent falls and subsequent injuries in the increasingly diverse aging population in the U.S.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Article Falls Health Disparity Research Older Adults Racial/ethnic Minority
• Source:
  J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 5(2):271-278
• Pubmed ID:
  28411329
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5641225
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  UL1 TR001445/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; P60MD000538/National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities/ ; U48DP005008/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; U54 MD000538/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; U48 DP005008/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; KL2 TR001446/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; U58 DP005621/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; U58DP005621/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; P60 MD000538/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States
• Volume:
  5
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7fc04bbdf5bbc6d75def3f6be2aeba9908ef2b13e31d441df32e1b9333734af5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/49126/cdc_49126_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 93.64 KB ]