Age and Ageing
Volume 40, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 595-601

Ethnicity and falls in older men: Low rate of falls in Italian-born men in Australia (Article) (Open Access)

Stanaway F.F.* , Cumming R.G. , Naganathan V. , Blyth F.M. , Handelsman D.J. , Le Couteur D.G. , Waite L.M. , Creasey H.M. , Seibel M.J. , Sambrook P.N.
  • a Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building (A27), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • b Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building (A27), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • c Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • d Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • e ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • f Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • g Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • h Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • i ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • j Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Background: past research suggests that fall rates in older persons may differ by ethnicity. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of falls between older male Italian-born immigrants and their Australian-born counterparts. Methods: this study analysed data from 335 Italian-born and 848 Australian-born men aged 70 years and over participating in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). Prospective falls data were collected by 4 monthly phone calls (mean follow-up time: 26.7 months). Negative binomial regression compared falls incidence rate ratios (IRR) between the two groups of men. Results: there were 37 (11%) Italian-born men and 185 (22%) Australian-born men who had two or more falls during follow-up (P < 0.001). Negative binomial analysis demonstrated that Italian-born men had half the incidence rate of falls compared with Australian-born men (IRR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.38-0.67). After adjustment for falls risk factors, Italian-born men remained significantly less likely to fall with a 43% lower fall rate (IRR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.85). Conclusion: older male Italian-born immigrants are less likely to fall than their Australian-born counterparts. Differences in fall rates between the two groups are not explained by established falls risk factors. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press.

Author Keywords

Italian immigrants Older persons Elderly Ethnicity Accidental falls

Index Keywords

prospective study immigrant regression analysis Australia follow up Italian human risk assessment Prospective Studies birthplace aging Ethnic Groups ethnic group controlled study priority journal Time Factors Aged Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors falling Multivariate Analysis New South Wales Incidence Article major clinical study Age Factors Italy ethnicity Accidental Falls psychotropic agent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80051734307&doi=10.1093%2fageing%2fafr067&partnerID=40&md5=ddc78c3a21bf5a4cdb88724995141c73
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afr067
ISSN: 00020729
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English