Kaatumisten esiintyvyys iäkkäillä entisillä huippu-urheilijoilla ja verrokeilla : kohorttitutkimus

Abstract

Tausta: Iäkkäiden ihmisten kaatumiset ja niiden aiheuttamat vammat ovat vakava ja yleistyvä kansanterveysongelma. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on tarkastella kaatumisten esiintyvyyttä entisillä ikääntyneillä huippu-urheilijoilla ja verrokeilla. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin tämänhetkisen fyysisen aktiivisuuden yhteyttä kaatumisten esiintyvyyteen. Menetelmät: Tutkimuksessa hyödynnetään entisten huippu-urheilijoiden ja saman ikäisten terveiden verrokkien kohorttitutkimuksen, viimeisessä osavaiheessa vuonna 2018 kerättyä kyselyaineistoa. Kyselylomake lähetettiin 788 henkilölle (entiset huippu-urheilijat n=472 ja verrokit n=316). Tutkittavien keski-ikä kyselyn ajankohtana oli 79,9 vuotta. Kaatumishistoria selvitettiin viidellä kysymyksellä, joilla kartoitettiin kaatumisten määrää ja yksityiskohtia kaatumisesta. Vapaa-ajan liikunnan harrastamista arvioitiin kysymyksellä, jossa tutkittavat arvioivat omaa fyysistä aktiivisuuttaan viimeisen 12 kk aikana. Huippu-urheilutaustan yhteyttä kaatumisiin selvitettiin binäärisellä logistisella regressiomallilla. Selittävinä tekijöinä huomioitiin ikä, ammattiasema ja nykyisen fyysisen aktiivisuuden taso (kevyt, kohtalainen, korkea). Tulokset: Entiset huippu-urheilijat vastasivat kyselyyn aktiivisemmin kuin verrokit (54 % vs. 46 %). Entisistä huippu-urheilijoista 30,5 % ilmoitti fyysisen aktiivisuutensa tason olevan korkea, verrokeista 12,3 %. Entisistä huippu-urheilijoista 14,8 % ja verrokeista 28,1 % ilmoitti fyysisen aktiivisuustasonsa olevan matala. Regressioanalyysin adjustoimaton malli sekä mallit, joissa ikä, ammattiasema ja fyysinen aktiivisuuden taso otettiin huomioon, osoittivat, että entisten huippu-urheilijoiden ryhmään kuuluminen ei ollut yhteydessä kaatumisten esiintyvyyteen. Vakioidussa mallissa fyysisen aktiivisuuden taso oli yhteydessä kaatumisiin; kohtalaisesti aktiivisilla tutkittavilla havaittiin 44 % (p=0,05) pienempi ja korkeasti aktiivisilla 47 % (p=0,07) pienempi riski kaatumiselle verrattuna vähiten aktiivisiin. Fyysisesti aktiivisimmista suurin osa on entisiä urheilijoita (n=74). Johtopäätökset: Nuoruuden huippu-urheilutausta ei ollut yhteydessä kaatumisten esiintyvyyteen noin 80 vuoden iässä, kun huomioon otettiin ikä, ammattiasema ja nykyisen fyysisen aktiivisuuden taso. Tulokset viittaavat kuitenkin siihen, että liikunnallisesti aktiivinen elämäntapa vanhemmalla iällä saattaa pienentää kaatumisriskiä.

Background: Falls with associated injuries among elderly individuals are a serious and increasing public health problem. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of falls among former elite athletes and matched controls. Methods: The study utilizes data from a cohort study of former elite athletes and age-matched healthy controls, with survey data collected in the final phase of 2018. A questionnaire was sent to 788 individuals (former elite athletes n=472, controls n=316). The average age of participants at the time of the survey was 79.9 years. The history of falls was assessed using five questions to determine the frequency and details of falls. Leisure-time physical activity was evaluated by a question where participants assessed their own physical activity over the past 12 months. The association between elite athletic background and falls was examined using binary logistic regression. Confounding factors considered included age, occupation, and current level of physical activity (low, moderate, high). Results: Former elite athletes responded to the survey more actively than controls (54% vs. 46%). Among former elite athletes, 30.5% reported a high level of physical activity, compared to 12.3% of controls. 14,8 % of the former elite athletes and 28,1 % of the controls reported low level of physical activity (p<0.001). Unadjusted regression analysis and models adjusting for age, occupation, and physical activity level showed that belonging to the group of former elite athletes was not associated with the prevalence of falls. In the adjusted model, the level of physical activity was associated with falls; moderately active participants had a 44% lower risk of falls (p=0.05), and highly active participants had a 47% lower risk (p=0.07) compared to low-active individuals. The majority of the most physically active participants were former athletes (n=74). Conclusions: The physical activity level of former elite athletes was generally higher than that of controls. A background in elite sports during youth was not associated with the prevalence of falls around the age of 80 when considering age, occupation, and level of physical activity. Low physical activity is associated with falls, while moderate physical activity significantly reduces the risk of falls statistically. High physical activity also reduces the risk of falls, in both groups, the former athletes and non-athletes.

Background: Falls with associated injuries among elderly individuals are a serious and increas-ing public health problem. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of falls among former elite athletes and matched controls.

Methods: The study utilizes data from a cohort study of former elite athletes and age-matched healthy controls, with survey data collected in the final phase of 2018. A questionnaire was sent to 788 individuals (former elite athletes n=472, controls n=316). The average age of par-ticipants at the time of the survey was 79.9 years.

The history of falls was assessed using five questions to determine the frequency and details of falls. Leisure-time physical activity was evaluated by a question where participants assessed their own physical activity over the past 12 months. The association between elite athletic background and falls was examined using binary logistic regression. Confounding factors con-sidered included age, occupation, and current level of physical activity (low, moderate, high).

Results: Former elite athletes responded to the survey more actively than controls (54% vs. 46%). Among former elite athletes, 30.5% reported a high level of physical activity, compared to 12.3% of controls. 14,8 % of the former elite athletes and 28,1 % of the controls reported low level of physical activity (p<0.001).

Unadjusted regression analysis and models adjusting for age, occupation, and physical activity level showed that belonging to the group of former elite athletes was not associated with the prevalence of falls. In the adjusted model, the level of physical activity was associated with falls; moderately active participants had a 44% lower risk of falls (p=0.05), and highly active participants had a 47% lower risk (p=0.07) compared to low-active individuals. The majority of the most physically active participants were former athletes (n=74).

Conclusions: The physical activity level of former elite athletes was generally higher than that of controls. A background in elite sports during youth was not associated with the prevalence of falls around the age of 80 when considering age, occupation, and level of physical activity. Low physical activity is associated with falls, while moderate physical activity significantly reduces the risk of falls statistically. High physical activity also reduces the risk of falls, in both groups, the former athletes and non-athletes.