Prevalence and correlates of major injuries among middle-aged and older adults in India: Results of a national cross-sectional survey in 2017-2018

Abstract

In this chapter we examine the prevalence and correlates of injury among middle-aged and older adults in India. The study included 72,262 individuals (45 years and older) from the cross-sectional 2017-2018 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1. Results indicate that 12.9% had a major injury in the past two years, 2.3% had a road traffic injury, 9.4% had a fall injury and 1.9% had other injuries in the past two years. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, having 5-9 years education (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 1.14, 95% Confidence Interval-CI: 1.011.79), having sleep problems (AOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.23-1.57), having two or more chronic conditions (AOR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.39), functional disability (AOR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.35), pain (AOR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.63-2.02), binge drinking (AOR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03-1.55), tobacco use (AOR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10-1.36), poor near vision (AOR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03-1.33), and hearing problems (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.11-1.52) were positively associated with past two years major injury. Compared to scheduled tribes, scheduled castes (AOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54-0.78), and other backward classes (AOR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76-0.96), having high subjective socioeconomic status (AOR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.97), and urban residence (AOR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73-0.93) were negatively associated with past two years major injury. Younger age and male sex were associated with road traffic injury, and older age and female sex with were associated with fall injury. Rural residence was associated with fall and other injury. Poor grip strength was positively associated with fall and other injury. Having depressive symptoms and vigorous physical activity were associated with other injuries. More than one in ten participants (12.9%) had a major injury in the past two years, and several risk factors were found that can be utilized in injury prevention strategies in India.