Examination of the increased risk for falls among individuals with knee osteoarthritis: A CLSA population based study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the profile of individuals with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA) who fell, and to identify factors contributing to an individual with knee OA experiencing one or multiple injurious falls.

METHODS: Data are from the baseline and 3-year follow-up questionnaires of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a population-based study of people aged 45-85 years at baseline. Analyses were limited to individuals either reporting knee OA or no arthritis at baseline (n=21,710). Differences between falling patterns among those with and without knee OA were tested using chi-square tests and multivariable adjusted logistic regression models. An ordinal logistic regression model examined predictors of experiencing one or more injurious falls among individuals with knee OA.

RESULTS: Among individuals reporting knee OA, 10% reported one or more injurious falls; 6% reported 1 fall, 4% reported 2+ falls. Having knee OA significantly contributed to the risk of falling (OR 1.33 [95% CI 1.14-1.56]), and individuals with knee OA were more likely to report having a fall indoors while standing or walking. Among individuals with knee OA, reporting a previous fall (OR 1.75 [95% CI 1.22-2.52]), previous fracture (OR 1.42 [95% CI 1.12-1.80]), and having urinary incontinence (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.01-1.88]), were significant predictors of falling.

CONCLUSION: Our findings support that knee OA is an independent risk factor for falls. The circumstances in which falls occur differs from those without knee OA. The risk factors and environments that are associated with falling may provide opportunities for clinical intervention and fall prevention strategies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.