# FALLS AND FRACTURES AMONG ELDERLY JAPANESE-AMERICANS

> **NIH NIH R01** · PACIFIC HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 1992 · $207,897

## Abstract

Approximately 25% of people age 65 and older fall each year.  These falls
are a principal cause of injuries, death, and disability among the elderly.
Falls occur more often among frail people, but are also common among the
healthy. The injuries and fear of falling that often develop after a fall
can
increase the level of frailty and dependence of the elderly. Fractures are
the most common serious injury from falls; as a result, falls are an
important risk factor for some types of fractures.  Hip fractures are the
most costly and disabling type of fracture among the elderly, and are
almost always caused by a fall.  Increasing hip fracture incidence rates
have been observed in successive generations of the same race, suggesting
that environmental/lifestyle factors may influence the risk of fracture.
Hip fracture incidence rates among certain minorities (Japanese-Americans,
Blacks, and Mexican-Americans) are lower than among Caucasians.  The rates
of other non-spine fractures among Japanese-Americans is only one-third
that reported for U.S. Caucasians.  Since the bone mass of
Japanese-Americans is lower than Caucasians, the lower incidence of
fractures among Japanese may be related to other factors, such as the
frequency of falls.  In support of this hypothesis, we have found that
elderly Japanese-American women in Hawaii fall fewer times per year on
average than reported for U.S. Caucasians.  We propose here to extend an
existing longitudinal study of bone loss and fractures, and begin a
prospective study of falls and fall-related injuries (including fractures)
among elderly Japanese-American women in Hawaii.  This study will explore
whether or not differences in fracture incidence (and possibly other
injuries) between Caucasians and Japanese are related to differences in the
patterns of falls, bone mass, and other factors (such as muscle strength or
body size).  It will also explore what factors are responsible for the
greater frequency of falls among Caucasians, compared to Japanese.  For
example, we will examine whether or not the observed difference in the rate
of falls (or fractures, or other injuries) might be due to a difference in
1) the prevalence of risk factors, and/or 2) a difference in the strength
of association with risk for falling for fractures or other injuries),
between races.  If the observed differences between races are related to
potentially modifiable risk factors, rather than genetic differences, the
results may help to design prevention strategies to reduce the frequency of
falls and fractures among the elderly.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122318
- **Project number:** 5R01AG010412-02
- **Recipient organization:** PACIFIC HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** PHILIP D ROSS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $207,897
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-09-30 → 1996-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122318

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122318, FALLS AND FRACTURES AMONG ELDERLY JAPANESE-AMERICANS (5R01AG010412-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122318. Licensed CC0.

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