Relationship between the FRAX(®) score and falls in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly people

OBJECTIVES: Falls is a risk factor for fracture. The FRAX(®) predicts fractures. Whether the FRAX(®) is associated with fall in both gender is inconclusive. The aim of our study is to evaluate the association between FRAX scores and falls. METHODS: The cross-sectional study set from 2009 to 2010 included 1200 community-dwelling people who were systematically sampled in central Taiwan. The 1200 participants (men: 524; women: 676; ≥40 years old) completed questionnaires about socioeconomic status; lifestyle; medical and fall history were completed. FRAX scores with and without bone mineral density (BMD) were calculated by using the Taiwan calculator. RESULTS: A total of 19.8% participants fell down. Binary regression models showed that diabetes mellitus history (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.03–2.52), the FRAX without BMD in a continuous major score (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03–1.09), continuous hip score (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05–1.16), categorical major score ≥ 10% (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.25–2.61), and categorical hip score ≥ 3% (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.30–2.50) were independent risk factors for falls. FRAX with BMD in a continuous major score (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02–1.06), continuous hip score (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09), categorical major score ≥ 10% (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.09–2.12), and categorical hip score ≥ 3% (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.13–2.09) were also independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that FRAX(®) scores with and without BMD were unanimously correlated with falls in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly males and females.