Abstract
Background: Hispanic ethnicity is associated with a reduced risk of fatal falls in the elderly despite lower socioeconomic standing. The factors responsible for this "Hispanic paradox" are unknown. We hypothesized that age and gender would modify this relationship and that the association would be accentuated in a community with prominent Hispanic culture. Materials and Methods: The number of fatal falls in a 3-year period in the United States (US) and in Miami-Dade County, Florida (MDC) were obtained through the CDC's WISQARS database and the Florida Office of Vital Statistics. US Census Bureau data were used to define the total at-risk populations by age group and gender. Age group- and gender-specific ratios of the risk of fatal fall in Hispanic to white non-Hispanic individuals were calculated. Results: In the US and MDC, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a reduced risk of fatal fall across all age and gender subgroups. In the US, the risk reduction associated with Hispanic ethnicity grew from 11% and 23% in 65- to 74-year-old men and women, respectively, to 43% for both men and women over 84-years-old. This relationship was stronger in MDC than nationally in five of the six age and gender subgroups examined. Conclusions: Older individuals, women, and residents of communities with prominent Hispanic culture have the greatest reduction in fatal fall risk associated with Hispanic ethnicity.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 113-117 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Surgical Research |
Volume | 175 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- accidental falls
- aged
- epidemiology
- Hispanic Americans
- trauma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
Cite this
Hispanic ethnicity and fatal fall risk : Do age, gender, and community modify the relationship? / Landy, David C.; Mintzer, Michael J.; Silva, Amanda K.; Dearwater, Stephen R.; Schulman, Carl I.
In: Journal of Surgical Research, Vol. 175, No. 1, 01.06.2012, p. 113-117.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hispanic ethnicity and fatal fall risk
T2 - Do age, gender, and community modify the relationship?
AU - Landy, David C.
AU - Mintzer, Michael J.
AU - Silva, Amanda K.
AU - Dearwater, Stephen R.
AU - Schulman, Carl I
PY - 2012/6/1
Y1 - 2012/6/1
N2 - Background: Hispanic ethnicity is associated with a reduced risk of fatal falls in the elderly despite lower socioeconomic standing. The factors responsible for this "Hispanic paradox" are unknown. We hypothesized that age and gender would modify this relationship and that the association would be accentuated in a community with prominent Hispanic culture. Materials and Methods: The number of fatal falls in a 3-year period in the United States (US) and in Miami-Dade County, Florida (MDC) were obtained through the CDC's WISQARS database and the Florida Office of Vital Statistics. US Census Bureau data were used to define the total at-risk populations by age group and gender. Age group- and gender-specific ratios of the risk of fatal fall in Hispanic to white non-Hispanic individuals were calculated. Results: In the US and MDC, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a reduced risk of fatal fall across all age and gender subgroups. In the US, the risk reduction associated with Hispanic ethnicity grew from 11% and 23% in 65- to 74-year-old men and women, respectively, to 43% for both men and women over 84-years-old. This relationship was stronger in MDC than nationally in five of the six age and gender subgroups examined. Conclusions: Older individuals, women, and residents of communities with prominent Hispanic culture have the greatest reduction in fatal fall risk associated with Hispanic ethnicity.
AB - Background: Hispanic ethnicity is associated with a reduced risk of fatal falls in the elderly despite lower socioeconomic standing. The factors responsible for this "Hispanic paradox" are unknown. We hypothesized that age and gender would modify this relationship and that the association would be accentuated in a community with prominent Hispanic culture. Materials and Methods: The number of fatal falls in a 3-year period in the United States (US) and in Miami-Dade County, Florida (MDC) were obtained through the CDC's WISQARS database and the Florida Office of Vital Statistics. US Census Bureau data were used to define the total at-risk populations by age group and gender. Age group- and gender-specific ratios of the risk of fatal fall in Hispanic to white non-Hispanic individuals were calculated. Results: In the US and MDC, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a reduced risk of fatal fall across all age and gender subgroups. In the US, the risk reduction associated with Hispanic ethnicity grew from 11% and 23% in 65- to 74-year-old men and women, respectively, to 43% for both men and women over 84-years-old. This relationship was stronger in MDC than nationally in five of the six age and gender subgroups examined. Conclusions: Older individuals, women, and residents of communities with prominent Hispanic culture have the greatest reduction in fatal fall risk associated with Hispanic ethnicity.
KW - accidental falls
KW - aged
KW - epidemiology
KW - Hispanic Americans
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860320058&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84860320058&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jss.2011.02.035
DO - 10.1016/j.jss.2011.02.035
M3 - Article
C2 - 21529828
AN - SCOPUS:84860320058
VL - 175
SP - 113
EP - 117
JO - Journal of Surgical Research
JF - Journal of Surgical Research
SN - 0022-4804
IS - 1
ER -