A Body Shape Index (ABSI) Shows Stronger Associations with Falls than BMI Among Older Adults: Evidence from…

Cohort studyGerontology· Jul 2026

A Body Shape Index (ABSI) Shows Stronger Associations with Falls than BMI Among Older Adults: Evidence from the NHATS Cohort.

Zhenxuan Ma, Indrakshi Roy

GeriatricsCohort studyDiagnosisQ2IF 3.1

Higher ABSI is associated with greater odds of falls in older adults

A Body Shape Index (ABSI) Shows Stronger Associations with Falls than BMI Among Older Adults: Evidence from the NHATS Cohort.

Zhenxuan Ma, Indrakshi Roy

Gerontology · Jul 2026

Background

Falls are a major public health concern among older adults, leading to injuries, loss of independence, and increased mortality.

Methods

We analyzed data from National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative cohort of U.

Results

higher ABSI raises the odds of falling

OR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

BMI showed weaker and less consistent associations (any fall: OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03; p = 0.030; multiple falls: OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.995-1.03; p = 0.158).

Associations were stronger among adults aged ≥80 years and those with multimorbidity or conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, or diabetes.

“

Conclusion

ABSI may be a more sensitive anthropometric measure than BMI for identifying older adults at risk for falls, underscoring its potential to improve geriatric fall-risk assessment and prevention strategies.

A Body Shape Index (ABSI) Shows Stronger Associations with Falls than BMI Among Older Adults: Evidence from the NHATS Cohort.

A Body Shape Index (ABSI) Shows Stronger Associations with Falls than BMI Among Older Adults: Evidence from the NHATS Cohort.

Related papers