Author Identifier (ORCID)
Marc Sim
ORCID : 0000-0001-5166-0605
Jonathan Hodgson
ORCID : 0000-0001-6184-7764
Lauren Blekkenhorst
ORCID : 0000-0003-1561-9052
Nicola Bondonno
ORCID : 0000-0001-5905-444X
Catherine Bondonno
ORCID : 0000-0001-8509-439X
Joshua Lewis
ORCID : 0000-0003-1003-8443
Abstract
Backgrounds and aims: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is associated with weaker grip strength, an established risk factor for fall-related hospitalizations. However, its association with long-term fall-related hospitalisations remains unknown. This study investigated the association between AAC and long-term fall-related hospitalizations in community-dwelling older women. Methods: Fall-related hospitalizations were obtained from linked data over 14.5-years in a prospective cohort of 1053 older women (mean age 75.0 ± 2.6 years). At baseline (1998/99), AAC was assessed from lateral spine images obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and scored using a semi-quantitative method (AAC24, range 0–24). The presence of any AAC was defined by AAC24 ≥ 1. Results: Over 14.5-years, 413 (39.2%) women experienced a fall-related hospitalization. In the multivariable-adjusted model, each unit increase in baseline AAC24 was associated with a 3% increase in relative hazards for a fall-related hospitalization (HR 1.03 95%CI, 1.01 to 1.07). Compared to women with no AAC, women with any AAC had a 40% (HR 1.40 95%CI, 1.11 to 1.76) and 39% (HR 1.39 95%CI, 1.10 to 1.76) greater risk for fall-related hospitalizations in the minimal and multivariable-adjusted models, respectively. This relationship was not attenuated by including measures of muscle function such as grip strength and timed-up-and-go. Conclusions: The presence of AAC is associated with long-term fall-related hospitalizations risk, independent of muscle function, in community-dwelling older women. Concurrent assessment of AAC may be a simple and cost-effective way to identify older women at higher risk of falling as part of routine osteoporosis screening.
Keywords
Abdominal aortic calcification, Ageing, Falls, Muscle function, Vascular calcification
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
7-31-2021
Volume
328
PubMed ID
34120736
Publication Title
Atherosclerosis
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Institute for Nutrition Research / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
35692
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council
Further funding information : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.05.003
Grant Number
NHMRC Numbers : 254627, 303169, 572604, 1159914, 1172987
Grant Link
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/254627
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/303169
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
First Page
153
Last Page
159
Comments
This is an author's accepted manuscript of:
Gebre, A. K., Sim, M., Rodríguez, A. J., Hodgson, J. M., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Szulc, P., ... Lewis, J. R. (2021). Abdominal aortic calcification is associated with a higher risk of injurious fall-related hospitalizations in older Australian women. Atherosclerosis, 328, 153-159.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.05.003