Association between Very Low Dietary Protein Intake and Subsequent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the United States

Poor nutrition is linked to frailty and both poor nutrition and frailty are recognized risk factors for falls. This study examined the association between dietary protein intake and subsequent reported falls in community-dwelling older Americans with a history of falls. Other nutritional, functional, and sociodemographic-related variables were also considered in our model. This was a retrospective analysis using data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS), both funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging. The study population (n=3,859) was community-dwelling older adults, aged >65 years, who reported ever experiencing a fall on the 2012 HRS and had also completed the 2013 HCNS and 2014 HRS. Univariable logistic models were created for all variables of interest; variables approaching statistical significance (p < 0.1) were included in the initial multivariable logistic model. Backwards selection (cut-off of p