Data from: Epidemiological survey of the feasibility of broadband ultrasound attenuation measured using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound to predict the incidence of falls in the middle-aged and elderly

Objectives: We investigated whether calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS-C) is a feasible tool for predicting the incidence of falls.
Design: Prospective epidemiological cohort study.
Setting: Community-dwelling people sampled in central western Taiwan.
Participants: A cohort of community-dwelling people > 40 years old (men: 524; women: 676) in 2009-2010. Follow-up questionnaires in 2012 were completed by 186 men and 257 women.
Methods: Structured questionnaires and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) data using QUS-C were obtained in 2009-2010, and follow-up surveys were done in a telephone interview in 2012. Using a binary logistic regression model, the associated risk factors to a new fall during follow-up were analyzed with all significant variables from the bivariate comparisons and theoretically important variables.
Primary outcome measures: The incidence of falls was determined when the first new fall occurred during the follow-up period. The mean follow-up time was 2.83 years.
Results: The total incidence of falls was 28.0 per 1000 person-years for the ≥ 40 years old group (all participants), 23.3 per 1000 person-years for the 40-70 years old group, and 45.6 per 1000 person-years for the ≥ 70 years old group. Using multiple logistic regression models, the independent factors were current smoking, living alone, psychiatric drug usage, and lower BUA (odds ratio: 0.93; 95% confidence interval: 0.88-0.99, p < 0.05) in the ≥ 70 years old group.
Conclusions: The incidence of falls was highest in the ≥ 70 years old group. Using QUS-C-derived BUA is feasible for predicting the incidence of falls in community-dwelling elderly ≥ 70 years old.