248557 Association between Age-related Eye Diseases and Falls in U.S. Nursing Home Residents

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 11:10 AM

Xinzhi Zhang , Vision Health Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Judy Stevens, PhD , Ncipc/duip, CDC, Atlanta, GA
Huabin Luo, PhD , Mod/Hcm, Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, NC
John E. Crews, DPA , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jinan B. Saaddine, MD, MPH , National Vision Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Background: Falls are common in nursing home residents and the consequences threaten their independence and quality of life.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of falls and related fractures in U.S. nursing home residents and its association with age-related eye diseases.

Methods: We used the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, a two-stage, cross-sectional probability national sampling survey to assess the prevalence of staff-reported falls and related fractures among residents aged 65 years and older. Age-related eye diseases (age-related macular degeneration, cataract, or glaucoma) and other comorbidities were identified using a standard set of diagnostic codes. We used multiple logistic regressions to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We used SAS callable SUDAAN to adjust for the complex sample design.

Results: Among nursing home residents with length of stay ≥ 180 days, 33.1% (95% [CI], 31.9%-44.2%) had fallen during the past 180 days; about 2.1% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.4%) had sustained hip or other fall-related fractures. After adjusting for age, sex, race, length of stay, limitations in activities of daily living, and Charlson comorbidity index, having age-related eye diseases was significantly associated with reported falls (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.18; 95%CI, 1.02-1.17) but not with fall-related fractures (OR: 1.38; 95% CI, 0.86-2.22).

Conclusions: Regular eye examinations may help identify nursing home residents at high risk for falls and lead to effective prevention strategies.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Identify falls and related fractures in U.S. nursing home residents and its association with age-related eye diseases.

Keywords: Vision Care, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualifed to present because I am a senior service fellow at CDC Vision Health Initiatve with extensive expertise and experience in the field of vision research. I am also the CDC lead scientist of vision health Translational Research Centers Network.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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