Alcohol Contributes to Fall Risk among Working-aged Individuals

The public-health impact of falls at home is substantial, resulting in a number of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths among working-aged individuals. Investigators conducted a population-based case-control study to investigate the role of acute alcohol use* in falls at home among individuals aged 25–60. Individuals who were admitted to a hospital or died as a result of a nonoccupational fall injury at home (n=335) were compared with controls (n=352) randomly selected from the same geographic region in New Zealand. Analyses were adjusted for various factors likely to explain falls, including hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥8).

• A significant association was seen between acute alcohol consumption and risk of fall injury in the next 6 hours:
  • Individuals who consumed 2 drinks were 3.7 times more likely to have a fall injury compared with individuals who did not drink (95% CI, 1.2–10.9).
  • Individuals who consumed 3 or more drinks were 12.9 times more likely to have a fall injury compared with individuals who did not drink (95% CI, 5.2–31.9).
  • Assuming a causal relationship, 20% of all fall injuries in the study population were attributable to acute alcohol consumption.

Comments:

Clinicians should raise awareness of the potential risk for fall injuries at home when counseling working-aged individuals regarding alcohol consumption.

Nicolas Bertholet, MD, MSc

Reference:

Kool B, Ameratunga S, Robinson E, et al. The contribution of alcohol to falls at home among working-aged adults. Alcohol. 2008;42(5):383–388.