Falls are associated with stroke, arthritis and multiple medications among community-dwelling elderly persons in Japan.

Falls are a major public health problem and the second leading cause of death due to unintentional accidental injury after road traffic accidents. Inactive, older individuals with several chronic illnesses fall more frequently than older individuals who are active and healthy. No population-based study has addressed the association of stroke, arthritis, hypnotic and other prescription medications with falls among the elderly simultaneously in a single population in Japan. We examined the prevalence of falls among community-dwelling elderly Japanese individuals, whom we randomly selected from a list of inhabitants aged ≥ 65 years compiled from the resident registration, and the associations between falls and each of stroke, arthritis, and hypnotic and other prescription medications. We interviewed 295 men and 307 women, and collected information about the number of falls during the latest one year, hemiplegia due to stroke, arthritis in the legs, and the number of hypnotic and other medications. We found that 46 men (16%) and 67 women (22%) had fallen at least once during the latest one year. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age showed that hemiplegia due to stroke (p < 0.001), arthritis in the legs (p < 0.001), and taking at least four daily prescription medications (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with falls in men. Arthritis in the legs (p = 0.05) and taking at least four daily prescription medications (p < 0.05) were associated with falls in women. Treatment of fall-related diseases and medication management are important strategies for reducing falls among elderly persons.