COUNTRY DIFFERENCES IN FALL RISK AMONG OLDER ADULTS - A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INDIA AND THE USA

Q: What is the main purpose of the study?

To compare fall risk among older adults aged 65+ in the U.S. and India and assess how socio-economic and socio-demographic factors influence that risk across countries.

Q: Which data sources were used for the analysis?

The study used a harmonized cross-sectional dataset built from LASI 2017-18 and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) covering 2016 and 2018.

Q: What is the key result regarding fall risk between the two countries?

Older adults in the U.S. have almost three times the odds of experiencing a fall compared with older adults in India (p < 0.001).

Q: How do education and gender relate to fall risk differently by country?

More years of education are associated with higher fall risk in the U.S. but not in India, while females show elevated fall risk in India but not in the U.S. relative to males.

Sep 29, 2026

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Falls represent a critical health concern for older adults, with risk factors varying across socio-demographic and lifestyle contexts. Despite public-health importance, few studies directly compare fall risk between older adults across countries. This study analyzes how socio-economic status and socio-demographic factors shape fall risk among adults aged 65+ in the U.S. and India using harmonized cross-sectional data from LASI 2017-18 and HRS 2016/2018. Logistic regression and country interaction tests identify significant predictors: U.S. older adults have nearly three times the odds of falling versus India (p<0.001), with education and gender effects differing by country, including heightened rural risk in the U.S. Results inform country-specific fall-prevention strategies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Overview

Data Sources and Methods

Main Findings and Moderators

Conclusions and Implications

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study?

To compare fall risk among older adults aged 65+ in the U.S. and India and assess how socio-economic and socio-demographic factors influence that risk across countries.

Which data sources were used for the analysis?

The study used a harmonized cross-sectional dataset built from LASI 2017-18 and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) covering 2016 and 2018.

What is the key result regarding fall risk between the two countries?

Older adults in the U.S. have almost three times the odds of experiencing a fall compared with older adults in India (p < 0.001).

How do education and gender relate to fall risk differently by country?

More years of education are associated with higher fall risk in the U.S. but not in India, while females show elevated fall risk in India but not in the U.S. relative to males.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Patrick