Level of Low Back Pain–Related Disability Is Associated with Risk of Subsequent Falls in an Older Population: Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS)

OBJECTIVES: To examine the longitudinal association between baseline disability due to low back pain (LBP) and future risk of falls, particularly significant falls requiring treatment, in a community-dwelling older population. METHODS: This was a prospective population-based cohort study using data from the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS; 2008-2010). A total of 2,738 residents aged ≥60 years were enrolled. LBP was assessed using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the level of LBP-related disability was divided into three categories (none, low, and medium to high). Incidence of falls over the following year was determined using a self-reported questionnaire after the one-year follow-up period. The risk ratio (RR) for LBP-related disability associated with any fall and any fall requiring treatment was estimated using log binomial regression models. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for 1,358 subjects. The prevalence of LBP at baseline was 16.4%, whereas 122 (8.9%) participants reported a low level of LBP-related disability and 101 (7.4%) reported medium to high levels of LBP-related disability. Incidence of any fall and falls requiring treatment was reported by 22.1% and 4.6% of participants, respectively. Subjects with medium to high levels of disability were more likely to experience subsequent falls (adjusted RR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-1.95) and falls requiring treatment (adjusted RR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.41-4.60) than those with no LBP-related disability. CONCLUSIONS: Level of LBP-related disability was associated with an increased risk of serious falls in a general population of community-living older adults. These findings can alert health care providers involved in fall prevention efforts to the important issue of activity-related disability due to LBP.