PREDICTORS OF ANKLE AND FOOT FRACTURES IN OLDER WOMEN

To determine risk factors for ankle and foot fractures, data collected hom 9704 women 65 years of age or older from four areas of the United States were analyzed. Self-reported baseline questionnaires covered a reas such as lifestyle factors (physical activity, diet, and smoking h abits) and functional impairment (history of fracture, falling, and ot her diseases), Bone mineral density (BMD) and performance on neuromusc ular tests were also measured, During 5.9 years of follow-up, 191 wome n fractured an ankle and 204 women fractured a foot, Proportional haza rd models were used to estimate relative risks, In multivariable model s, factors associated with ankle fracture included one or more falls i n the year prior to baseline (relative risk [RR] 1.5; 95% confidence i nterval [CI] 1.1-2.1), greater vigorous physical activity (RR per 2 ti mes/week, 1.2; CI 1.1-1.3), weight gain since age 25 (RR per 20% gain, 1.4; CI 1.2-1.5), self-reported osteoarthritis (RR 0.5; CI 0.3-0.8), a sister's history of hip fracture after age 50 (RR 1.7; CI 1.0-3.0), out of house less than or equal to 1 per week (RR 3.0; CI 1.4-6.6), an d low distal radius BMD (RR per -0.1 g/cm(2), 1.2; CI 1.0-1.4), Factor s associated with foot fracture included insulin-dependent diabetes (R R 2.9; CI 1.2-7.2), use of seizure medications (RE 2.3; CI 1.0-5.7) or of benzodiazepines (RR 1.5; CI 1.1-2.2), history of hyperthyroidism ( RR 0.5; CI 0.3-1.0), poor far depth perception (RR 0.7; CI 0.5-1.0), a nd low distal radius BMD (RR per -0.1 g/cm(2), 1.3; CI 1.1-1.5), Ankle and foot fractures have different profiles of risk factors that are l argely independent of low bone mass.