Association between arteriosclerosis, hemodynamic indices, and the risk of falls: receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for different indices in older individuals.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the risk factors for falls and evaluate the correlation between arteriosclerosis, hemodynamic indices, and the risk of falls in older individuals.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included 920 individuals aged 60 and above from the cadre ward of the First Hospital of Jilin University. Data were obtained from the comprehensive geriatric assessment database of the cadre ward. Ankle-brachial indices (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured using an OMRON arteriosclerosis detection device. Hemodynamic indices were assessed using the CSM3100 thoracic impedance hemodynamic detection system. Fall risk was evaluated with the fall risk assessment tool.

RESULTS

Significant differences in age, weight, education, smoking status, alcohol consumption, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, daily living abilities, depressive state, baPWV, ABI (all < 0.001), systolic pressure, heart rate, cardiac stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance were observed among the three groups ( = 0.011,  = 0.035,  = 0.005,  = 0.016). Ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that the probability of an increase in fall risk by one level was 2.069 times higher for each unit decrease in educational background. Additionally, fall risk increased by 2.492 times for each additional year of age, 55.813 times for each unit of weight, 3.208 times for smoking status, 3.610 times for alcohol consumption, 4.665 times for cognitive impairment, 2.247 times for malnutrition, 2.596 times for ABI, 2.092 times for heart rate, and 1.586 times for cardiac stroke volume. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for fall risk in older individuals demonstrated that ABI was superior to heart rate and systemic vascular resistance in predicting the occurrence of falls.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that age, weight, educational background, smoking status, alcohol consumption, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, ABI, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac stroke volume are associated with an increased risk of falls in older adults. Moreover, arteriosclerosis and hemodynamic parameters may aid in the early identification of fall risk among older individuals.