Association between frailty and falls in middle-aged and older patients with chronic lung disease: the CHARLS study

Background As the world's population ages at an accelerated rate, geriatric health has emerged as a significant public health challenge. Falls are the most common unintentional injury among the elderly.Current research mainly focuses on elderly people living in communities, but there are some limitations to the association between falls and specific chronic disease groups, especially those with respiratory diseases.The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between frailty and falls in middle-aged and elderly Chinese patients with chronic lung disease, based on the cumulative health deficits model. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted by integrating data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2015, including 1,396 patients aged 45 years or older. A frailty index consisting of 34 health deficits was constructed. The strength of association was analyzed using a multistage logistic regression model (with stepwise adjustment for 13 confounders, including demographics, functional status, and comorbidities). Results The prevalence of frailty was 38.9%, and the incidence of falls in the previous two years was 24.4%. After full adjustment, each unit increase in the frailty index was associated with a 2% increase in the risk of falls (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03); compared with the robust group, the risk in the frail group was 80% higher (95% CI 1.05–3.09). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant interaction among the married population (P for trend = 0.013). Conclusions Drawing from the extensive CHARLS dataset, this study concludes that frailty serves as an independent risk factor for falls in patients with chronic lung disease. It is crucial that attention be given to the assessment and intervention of frailty to diminish the risk of falls and enhance patients' quality of life. The study offers significant epidemiological evidence for further detailed investigation into the causal relationship and potential mechanisms linking frailty to falls. Additionally, it furnishes theoretical backing for the creation of targeted intervention strategies.