Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Innovations in iTUG Test for Enhanced Risk Assessment and Cognitive Insights
Published on: October 25, 2024
The Association Between Pain and Fall Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese
Wei Li1, Michelle Gamber2, Jingnan Han3
1Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
Background:
Falls and fall-induced injuries in elderly people are common worldwide. However, few reports have examined the association between body pain and fall in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The objective of this study is to access the association between pain and fall among middle-aged and older Chinese.
Methods:
Data were drawn from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from respondents who were middle-aged and older (over 45 years old). A logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the association between body pain and fall, after controlling for confounders.
Results:
After adjusting for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, health status and comorbidity, those participants who had pain were 73% more likely to report falls than those who did not have pain (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.56-1.92). Elder age was associated with a higher risk of fall (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.47-2.13). Comparing to female, male was associated with a lower risk of fall (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.74). Lifestyle such as drinking status, self-reported health status, chronic diseases, vision impairment and disability were significantly associated with fall.
Conclusion:
Body pain is significantly associated with fall among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Appropriate pain management programs and policies are needed in fall prevention.
